Climate change is increasingly driving violations of the right to life and the right to health. In fact, climate change has been called “the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century”.
How does climate change impact health?
- Extreme weather events worsened by climate change pose serious threats to physical and mental health.
- Heatwaves, flooding, and wildfires lead to injuries, deaths, and the spread of illnesses.
- An increase in extreme heat results in more deaths, diseases, and migration.
How do fossil fuels affect health?
- The burning of fossil fuels is a primary cause of climate change and air pollution.
- Air pollution from fossil fuels leads to heart diseases, lung cancer, and asthma.
- Amnesty supports a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty for renewable energy transition.
How do we know climate change causes extreme weather?
- Scientific studies show the increasing influence of climate change on extreme weather events.
- Networks like World Weather Attribution analyze climate change impacts on weather.
- Recent heatwaves in Asia were attributed to climate change by World Weather Attribution.
Which communities are most affected?
- Climate change impacts health worldwide, affecting vulnerable communities the most.
- People facing poverty, discrimination, and homelessness are at higher risk.
- Addressing climate change requires prioritizing vulnerable populations.
Isn’t this about climate justice?
- Climate change is an issue of injustice impacting human rights and health.
- Amnesty advocates for climate justice through fossil fuel advocacy and increased financing.
What has Amnesty International revealed?
- Amnesty has researched climate-related health impacts in countries like Pakistan, Libya, and Spain.
- Governments have failed to protect communities near fossil fuel operations.
- Amnesty highlights procedural rights violations in environmental cases.
What are other organizations saying?
- Human Rights Watch and other global organizations focus on climate change’s health impacts.
- Studies reveal health risks for marginalized groups due to climate change.
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Source: www.amnesty.org