Medsin Campaigns on Climate Change
Written by Jennifer Riches, about 1 year ago | Permalink | Campaign: Healthy Planet
The theme of this year's National Conference was 'Population and Health', organised by Medsin Dundee. One of the plenary titles addressed the important issues of Food and Environment and highlighted the need for individuals and communities to take action to stop climate change and minimise its impact on developing countries.
Medsin members signed a giant banner reading 'Dont let our carbon footprint trample on health' with their footprints and participated in a group photo to:
Call on governments of the world to put in place a global framework such as the Global Commons Institute’s Contraction and Convergence to cap the emissions of greenhouse gases such that their atmospheric concentration does not rise above 450 ppm C02
Call on governments of the world to transfer resources to the poorest populations of the world so that they can adapt to the climate impacts that are now unavoidable as a result of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and can meet their development needs, including population stabilisation, without further contributing to adverse health and environmental impacts at a local and global level.
Call on individual health professionals to measure and reduce their own carbon footprint and to push for health-related institutions to adopt sustainable practices, recognising that in doing so we will be greatly enhancing the persuasive power of our advocacy as well as contributing to the transition to a low carbon world
Call on research institutions to invest resources in exploring the most effective way of reducing carbon
Call on all health professionals and other professional groups to join in supporting this declaration and to take urgent action on this issue within their own spheres of influence
Dr Robin Stott of Medact supported these claims and congratulated Medsin members on their action on this issue.
To read more about Medsin's campaigning on climate change and to see photos of this weekend's action see the Healthy Planet webpage.
