S1E112: First COP28 Health Day highlights climate link to health crisis

At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai from Nov 30-Dec 12, a
first-ever dedicated Health Day has been set aside today on Dec
3. 


Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits
Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from
biodiversity conservation to climate change.


From heatwaves and floods triggering illness and death to air
pollution from burning fossil fuels killing millions of people a
year, climate change really is a global health crisis and
requires urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 


Yet for nearly 30 years, the annual UN climate conferences, or
COPs, have failed to focus on the escalating human impacts from
climate change. Negotiators have focused more on cutting
greenhouse gas emissions than on the link to health. 


In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Dr
Maria Neira, the World Health Organisation's top public health
and environment official, to talk more about the importance of
such issues on the COP's first-ever Health Day. 


They discuss why it is so urgent that nations take action
now to tackle climate change and why doing so could be the
ultimate public health opportunity.


Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):


1:06 Why is the climate crisis a health crisis? Key connections


6:53 Why haven’t UN climate talks focused more strongly on the
link between climate and human health? 


9:48 Dr Maria Neira: “If we reduce the bad quality of the air we
breathe every year, we could save at least 5 million lives.”


11:37 Tough action against climate change could be the ultimate
public health opportunity


13:34 Dr Maria Neira: “The moment people connect health and
climate change, I think there will be an incredible increase in
the sense of urgency.”


Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest
Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6


Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu


---


Discover more ST podcast channels:


COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE


In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt


Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7


Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN


Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf


Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m


ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE


#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad


Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX


Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


---


Special edition series:


True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T


The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps):
https://str.sg/wuZ2


Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn


Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB


Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa


---


Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!


#greenpulse


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.