December 04, 2018
Lancet sharp climate challenge to governments
The Māori Climate Commissioner is calling on the Government to respond to a challenge from a leading medical journal for stronger policies around climate change.
Donna Awatere Huata says New Zealand's politicians have offered a vague promise to be carbon neutral in 32 years, but climate change is happening right here and right now.
The latest issue of The Lancet reported on the health impact of climate change, including the likelihood of crop yield failures leading to malnutrition, increased risk of dengue fever and the direct threat from extreme weather events causing injuries, deaths, displacement and post-traumatic stress.
She says one major threat to health from a dramatically warming planet is the ability of workers to just be able to do their jobs in soaring temperatures, especially those working outside.
Ms Awatere Huata says without radical responses like mass tree planting, large increases in green energy research and a fundamental re-ordering of the economic and social settings, the conclusions The Lancet predicts will become unavoidable
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