Climate Change and Global Health

Climate change poses a significant threat to humanity and the environment, with various health issues like cancers, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and infections directly linked to carbon emissions and climate change. The healthcare sector itself is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, raising concerns about its impact on both climate and health. The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Health Systems Task Force, a public-private partnership, has been established to address the decarbonization of the healthcare sector, involving pharmaceutical companies, WHO, NHS, and academic institutions. Efforts are being made to decarbonize the supply chain, reduce energy consumption, leverage digital healthcare, and focus on early diagnosis and intervention to improve patients' health outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and lower carbon emissions.