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Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future

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Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future DISCUSSION PAPER Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future Human health and the Rio Conventions: biological diversity, climate change and desertification Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future Human health and the Rio Conventions: biological diversity, climate change and desertification Coordinating lead authors: Jonathan Patz1, Carlos Corvalan2, Pierre Horwitz3, Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum4 Lead authors: Nick Watts5, Marina Maiero4, Sarah Olson1,6, Jennifer Hales7, Clark Miller8, Kathryn Campbell9, Cristina Romanelli9, David Cooper9 Reviewers: Daniele Violetti10, Fernando Castellanos Silveira10, Dan Bondi Ogolla10, Grant Kirkman10, Tiffany Hodgson10, Sergio Zelaya-Bonilla11, Elena Villalobos-Prats4 1 University of Wisconsin, USA; 2 Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization; 3 Edith Cowan University, Australia; 4 World Health Organization; 5 The University of Western Australia, Australia; 6 Wildlife Conservation Society; 7 Independent Consultant, Reston, VA, USA; 8 Arizona State University, USA; 9 Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; 10 Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; 11 Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. © World Health Organization 2012 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization are available on the WHO web site (www.who.int) or can be purchased from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press through the WHO web site (http://www.who.int/about/licensing/copyright_form/en/index.html). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization con- cerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate bor- der lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of propri- etary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpreta- tion and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. Cover: Main photo: “Without fire, life multiplies. Put the Cerrado in your heart.” Poster by children, near to Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil. The Cerrado is one of the world’s most diverse tropical ecosystems, serving as a refuge for species during periods of climate change. Photo credit: Aderita Sena, Ministry of Health, Brazil. Insert photo: Idrimi refugee camp in Chad: more frequent and intense drought can cause desertification, food shortages, and potentially population displacement and increasing tension between communities. Photo Credit: Olav. A. Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross. Editing and design by Inís Communication – www.iniscommunication.com Contents Executive Summary . 1 Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future . .1 Biodiversity, climate change and desertification: three interlinked issues of relevance to health . 2 Impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change and desertification on various determinants of health . 3 Opportunities for the future of sustainable development . .5 1 . Introduction: healthy planet, healthy people . 7 1.1 Background to human health and the environment . 7 1.2 Determinants of health in the context of the Rio Conventions . 9 2 .Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) . 13 2.1 Introduction. 13 2.2 Interlinkages between biodiversity and health . 13 2.2.1 Background to interlinkages. 13 2.2.2 Conservation and use of biodiversity and interlinkages with health . 15 2.3 Value of ecosystems for health . 16 2.3.1 Economic costs of ecosystem change . .16 2.3.2 Economic gains from biodiversity and health co-benefits . 17 2.4 Status of health in the CBD, and its operational mechanisms . .17 2.4.1 Health within the CBD’s legal framework . 17 2.4.2 Health within the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets . 19 2.5 Opportunities for better linkage of biodiversity and health goals . .21 3 . United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) . 22 3.1 Introduction. .22 3.2 Impacts of climate change on health . 22 3.2.1 Impacts on health and health determinants . 22 3.2.2 Financial costs to health systems and the wider economy . 25 3.3 Mitigation of climate change and its co-benefits for health . 26 3.3.1 Potential health gains through mitigation in key sectors . .26 3.3.2 Economic gains from health co-benefits . .26 Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future III 3.4 Status of health in the UNFCCC process, and its operational mechanisms . 27 3.4.1 Health within the UNFCCC legal framework . .27 3.4.2 Health within the adaptation mechanisms of the UNFCCC. .28 3.4.3 Support for national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs) . 29 3.4.4 Health within the mitigation mechanisms of the UNFCCC. .30 3.5 Opportunities for better linkage of climate and health goals. .31 3.5.1 Framing health and climate change. .31 3.5.2 Health expertise within the UNFCCC work programmes . .31 3.5.3 Linking health to mitigation and adaptation efforts . 32 3.5.4 Health impact assessments . 32 3.5.5 Reporting on climate change mitigation . 33 4 .Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) . 34 4.1 Desertification and its interactions with sustainable development . 34 4.2 Effects of desertification, land degradation and drought on human health . 37 4.2.1 Water Security . 37 4.2.2 Food security . 39 4.2.3 Air pollution and dust storms. .39 4.2.4 Synergistic effects: livelihoods, migration and psychosocial health. .40 4.3 Health within the UNCCD: opportunities to improve health and address desertification . 42 5 . Integrating health and global environmental change into sustainable development . 43 5.1 Role of the Rio Conventions in health . 43 5.2 The unfinished agenda: the Millennium Development Goals . 43 5.3 Opportunities for the future of sustainable development . 47 5.3.1 Improving synergies in policy design and support . 47 5.3.2 Strengthening research and operational capacity on environmental change and human health . 48 5.3.3 Monitoring and evaluating progress across health, environment and sustainable development . 50 References . 52. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of their respective Institutions. IV Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future 3.4 Status of health in the UNFCCC process, and its operational mechanisms . 27 Executive Summary 3.4.1 Health within the UNFCCC legal framework . .27 3.4.2 Health within the adaptation mechanisms of the UNFCCC. .28 3.4.3 Support for national adaptation programmes of action Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future (NAPAs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs) . 29 “Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. 3.4.4 Health within the mitigation mechanisms of the UNFCCC. .30 They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature” 3.5 Opportunities for better linkage of climate and health goals. .31 3.5.1 Framing health and climate change. .31 Health is our most basic human right and one of the most important indicators of sustainable development. We rely on healthy ecosystems to support healthy communities and societies. Well- 3.5.2 Health expertise within the UNFCCC work programmes . .31 functioning ecosystems provide goods and services essential for human health. These include 3.5.3 Linking health to mitigation and adaptation efforts . 32 nutrition and food security, clean air and fresh water, medicines, cultural and spiritual values, 3.5.4 Health impact assessments . 32 and contributions to local livelihoods and economic development. They can also help to limit 3.5.5 Reporting on climate change mitigation . 33 disease and stabilize the climate. Health policies need to recognize these essential contributions. The three so-called Rio Conventions arising from the 1992 Earth Summit – the Convention on 4 .Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) . 34 Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification – together aim to maintain well-func- 4.1 Desertification and its interactions with sustainable development . 34 tioning ecosystems for the benefit of humanity. 4.2 Effects of desertification, land degradation and drought on human health . 37 4.2.1 Water Security . 37 There is growing evidence of the impacts of global environmental changes on ecosystems and people, and a renewed consciousness among peoples and nations of the need to act quickly to 4.2.2 Food security . 39 protect the planet’s ecological
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