An independent commission of former heads of government, international organization officials, ministers and civil society leaders called on the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday to declare climate change an international public health emergency.
The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, chaired by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and convened by WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, brought together 13 former heads of government, international organization officials, ministers and civil society leaders from across the WHO European region, which comprises 53 countries.
From Geneva, the commission published its "Call to Action," urging the WHO "to formally declare climate change a public health emergency of international concern.”
Pointing out that the current framework of the International Health Regulations was not designed to address climate threats, the commission said the rules have failed to keep pace with the scale of the crisis.
"The absence of a formal emergency designation has allowed governments to treat climate change as a chronic background condition rather than an acute, escalating threat that is already evident," it said.
