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| Climate policies 'improve health' | Climate policies 'improve health' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Cutting emissions to mitigate climate change will also make people healthier, according to research. | Cutting emissions to mitigate climate change will also make people healthier, according to research. |
| A special series of articles, published in medical journal, the Lancet, outlines how such policies could have a direct impact on global health. | A special series of articles, published in medical journal, the Lancet, outlines how such policies could have a direct impact on global health. |
| The series has been released ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. | The series has been released ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. |
| World Health Organization (WHO) director, Margaret Chan, said health protection should be a criterion by which mitigation measures were judged. | World Health Organization (WHO) director, Margaret Chan, said health protection should be a criterion by which mitigation measures were judged. |
| Dr Chan was just one of the key figures in global health research who wrote a comment article that was published alongside the Lancet reports. | |
| Another was Professor Sir Andrew Haines, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who is chair of the international task force of scientists that wrote the series. | Another was Professor Sir Andrew Haines, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who is chair of the international task force of scientists that wrote the series. |
| KEY FINDINGS Food: High-producing countries should reduce livestock production by 30%. If this translated into reduced meat consumption, the amount of saturated fat consumed would drop sharply, which could reduce heart diseaseTransport: Cutting emissions through walking and cycling and reducing use of motor vehicles would bring health benefits including reduced cardiovascular disease, depression and dementiaHousehold: In low-income countries, solid fuel stoves create indoor air pollution. National programmes to introduce low-emission stoves could avert millions of premature deaths and reduce greenhouse gas emissionsPollution: Short-lived pollutants including ozone and black carbon contribute to climate change and damage health. Reducing emissions of these would offer immediate benefitsEnergy: Decreasing the proportion of carbon-based electricity generation would give health benefits worldwide, particularly in middle-income countries such as India and China | KEY FINDINGS Food: High-producing countries should reduce livestock production by 30%. If this translated into reduced meat consumption, the amount of saturated fat consumed would drop sharply, which could reduce heart diseaseTransport: Cutting emissions through walking and cycling and reducing use of motor vehicles would bring health benefits including reduced cardiovascular disease, depression and dementiaHousehold: In low-income countries, solid fuel stoves create indoor air pollution. National programmes to introduce low-emission stoves could avert millions of premature deaths and reduce greenhouse gas emissionsPollution: Short-lived pollutants including ozone and black carbon contribute to climate change and damage health. Reducing emissions of these would offer immediate benefitsEnergy: Decreasing the proportion of carbon-based electricity generation would give health benefits worldwide, particularly in middle-income countries such as India and China |
| He said that the public health benefits of mitigation policies had not had "sufficient prominence" in international negotiations. | He said that the public health benefits of mitigation policies had not had "sufficient prominence" in international negotiations. |
| Dr Chan commented: "As this series shows, cutting greenhouse gas emissions can represent a mutually reinforcing opportunity to reduce climate change and improve public health." | Dr Chan commented: "As this series shows, cutting greenhouse gas emissions can represent a mutually reinforcing opportunity to reduce climate change and improve public health." |
| Some of the key findings presented in the reports included evidence that moving towards low carbon transport systems could reduce the health impacts of urban air pollution and physical inactivity. | Some of the key findings presented in the reports included evidence that moving towards low carbon transport systems could reduce the health impacts of urban air pollution and physical inactivity. |
| Researchers also found that changes in farming practice to reduce livestock and meat consumption could improve health by lowering the intake of saturated fat. | Researchers also found that changes in farming practice to reduce livestock and meat consumption could improve health by lowering the intake of saturated fat. |
| And in poor countries, reducing the need to burn solid fuel indoors could have a significant impact on child and maternal health by cutting indoor air pollution. | And in poor countries, reducing the need to burn solid fuel indoors could have a significant impact on child and maternal health by cutting indoor air pollution. |
| One group of researchers described the results of an 18-year study of the long-term health effects of pollution in the US. | One group of researchers described the results of an 18-year study of the long-term health effects of pollution in the US. |
| The team, led by Professor Kirk Smith from the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, US, pointed out that "short-lived" greenhouse pollutants, such as particles of black carbon and ozone, can directly damage the heart and lungs. | The team, led by Professor Kirk Smith from the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, US, pointed out that "short-lived" greenhouse pollutants, such as particles of black carbon and ozone, can directly damage the heart and lungs. |
| They say that "separate climate change agreements" might be needed for these pollutants. | They say that "separate climate change agreements" might be needed for these pollutants. |
| In another paper, scientists quantified changes that were needed in the agricultural sector, which contributes 10-12% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. | In another paper, scientists quantified changes that were needed in the agricultural sector, which contributes 10-12% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. |
| They wrote that "high-producing countries" should reduce livestock production by 30% to slow climate change and reduce heart disease. | They wrote that "high-producing countries" should reduce livestock production by 30% to slow climate change and reduce heart disease. |
| Researchers also called for health and climate change scientists to work together and for more funding for such interdisciplinary projects. | |
| Copenhagen hope | Copenhagen hope |
| The editor of the Lancet, Dr Richard Horton cautioned against putting too much pressure on the Copenhagen meeting. | The editor of the Lancet, Dr Richard Horton cautioned against putting too much pressure on the Copenhagen meeting. |
| He said: "By suggesting that Copenhagen is the 'last chance' for a binding international climate change agreement, anything less will seem a failure. | He said: "By suggesting that Copenhagen is the 'last chance' for a binding international climate change agreement, anything less will seem a failure. |
| "Copenhagen is a beginning, not the end." | "Copenhagen is a beginning, not the end." |
| Professor Haines said: "The Copenhagen conference presents an important opportunity to choose those policies that can not only achieve needed reductions in greenhouse gases, but also move toward development and health goals." | Professor Haines said: "The Copenhagen conference presents an important opportunity to choose those policies that can not only achieve needed reductions in greenhouse gases, but also move toward development and health goals." |