The 2019 annual report focuses on the negative impacts of climate change on health and emphasizes the need for immediate action towards conserving health and the climate.
What is the Lancet Countdown?
The Lancet Countdown is a collaboration of over 100 leading experts from universities and UN agencies across the globe, bringing together climate scientists, engineers, energy, economists, political scientists, public health professionals and doctors. Each year the findings are published annually in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, ahead of the UN climate change negotiations. The report makes clear how climate change is affecting our health, the consequences of delayed action and the health benefits of a robust response.
The 2019 Report – Oslo Launch Event
Anne Bergh, Specialist Director for Global Health at NIPH opened the launch event with a welcome speech. She introduced Elizabeth Robinson, Professor of Environmental Economics at University of Reading and co-authors of the 2019 Report of the Lancet Countdown. During her presentation, she introduced the main work of the report and referenced the key messages. Some of the key messages included:
- The life of every child born today will be profoundly affected by climate change, with populations around the world increasingly facing extremes of weather, food and water insecurity, changing patterns of infectious disease, and a less certain future.
- The economic choices made by every country worldwide affects climate change.
- Bold new approaches to policymaking, research, and business are necessary in order to change course.
A panel moderated by Karine Nordstrand, Department Director of Global Health at NIPH, discussed strategies for health policy developments as a response to climate change. The panel included:
- Olav Kjørven | Chief Strategy Officer | EAT Forum
- Sofie Nordvik | Campaign coordinator | Norwegian UN Youth Delegate on Climate
- Kim N. Gabrielli | Executive Director | UN Global Compact Norway
- Andrea S. Winkler | Director Centre for Global Health, University of Oslo | Co-director Center for Global Health, TUM, Germany | Director, WGH-Norway | Co-chair, Lancet One Health Commission
- Elizabeth Robinson
Following the panel, Dag-Inge Ulstein, Norwegian Minister of International Development shared the importance of government initiatives towards combating climate change emphasizing on the urgent need for action. He specifically mentioned, “Every hour 12 children under the age of 5 die due to air pollution in India.” Without accelerated intervention, this new era will come to define the health of people at every stage of their lives.