Countries meeting at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai are highlighting the crucial link between the climate crisis and human health. Among the issues addressed, air pollution is of particular concern, leading to the deaths of 7 million people worldwide each year, according to the WHO.
Pope Francis also highlighted the urgency of concrete action at COP28, calling on participants to move beyond nationalisms and models of the past to achieve a common vision and global ecological conversion. Despite his physical absence due to bronchitis, the Pope expressed his support and interest in the ongoing debates.
Al Gore’s intervention at COP28 was also notable. The former US vice president denounced the climate record of the United Arab Emirates, the host country of the conference, highlighting greenhouse gas emissions from significant sites such as oil fields and desalination plants. Al Gore used data from the Climate TRACE site to support his remarks, a network of satellites using artificial intelligence to estimate true global emissions.
The fourth day of COP28 was dedicated to health and addressed the issue of air quality and the harmful effects of climate change on human health. According to the WHO, outdoor air pollution caused by fossil fuels is responsible for more than four million deaths per year, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases, strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and diabetes, among others.
As the conference takes place near many sources of pollution such as Dubai’s gas-fired power plants, ports and airports, a layer of unhealthy fog has enveloped the city, obscuring skyscrapers. This highlights the importance of taking action against air pollution and finding sustainable solutions to protect people’s health.
These discussions at COP28 underline the urgency of action to combat climate change and its consequences on human health. It is essential to promote policies and actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in order to preserve our well-being and that of future generations.