WHO urged to declare climate crisis a PHEIC
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- World Health Organization is urged by the pan‑European commission to declare the climate crisis a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
- Independent pan‑European commission on climate and health warned that rising vector‑borne diseases, extreme weather, food insecurity and air pollution make a PHEIC necessary, and presented its report to European ministers on Sunday.
- Katrín Jakobsdóttir said the climate crisis threatens humanity’s health and survival and must be addressed urgently.
- Sir Andrew Haines noted that WHO already recognises climate change as a major health threat and the commission is asking for a step further.
- European governments are urged to end fossil‑fuel subsidies, which cause roughly 600,000 premature deaths annually in Europe and cost €444 bn (£387 bn) per year; in 12 countries the subsidies exceeded 10 % of health spending in 2023, and in four they outstripped the entire health budget.
Why it matters: European governments face pressure to cut €444 bn in fossil‑fuel subsidies, which currently cause 600,000 premature deaths, while a WHO PHEIC declaration would trigger coordinated global health actions to curb climate‑related illnesses.
