From evidence to advocacy

A sobering account from a chest surgeon seeing blackened lungs. A growing movement for 100% renewable electricity in health care facilities. A recognition of the role of health in the UN climate negotiation process.

These were the major threads that Health Care Without Harm wove throughout the first two days of the conference, which focused on the state of the science on the health impacts of air pollution, strategies and tools for combatting it, and the critical role of communications and advocacy. Read Part 1 of our conference blog.
 

Commitments, call to action, and key takeaways 

The conference concluded with a High Level Action Day, during which Health Care Without Harm announced our initiatives to mobilize hospitals as clean air champions, joining over 80 governments and institutions committing to urgent action on air pollution and climate change. Read Part 2 of our conference blog.
 

As air pollution menace mounts, concerted action needed

“The health of the nation is in peril and the future of our children is at stake. It is time for resolute action, not just seasonal lament,” writes Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, President of the Public Health Foundation of India, a Health Care Without Harm partner. Learn how air pollution harms both human health and the economy, and what must be done. Read Dr. Reddy's op-ed.

Art meets advocacy to convey potent health messages

"91% of people worldwide breathing unhealthy air, resulting in 7 million deaths annually." While backed up by science, such stark figures can overwhelm or even numb. Art and storytelling can play a powerful role in conveying the impact to broad audiences and inspiring action. To this end, Health Care Without Harm presented two artistic projects at the WHO conference, both by Indian artists. Please help us disseminate them widely.

Download and share a set of posters that convey the health impacts of air pollution on children, pregnant women, and chronic diseases, and how hospitals and healthy energy choices can protect health.

View and share 'Coal Couture', a 3D art installation with video that highlight the cost children bear for our dependence on fossil fuels. The project features five objects belonging to five children from India, the Philippines, and South Africa, along with stories of how air pollution affects their health.
 

People’s movement – a must for achieving clean air goals

Chest surgeon Dr. Arvind Kumar shares his deep concern over rising lung cancer cases in non-smoking and young patients, while pointing to evidence on air pollution’s health burden from the World Health Organization and Lancet medical journal. He argues for a powerful solution: to mobilize every Indian to understand the perils of air pollution and demand, immediate, unambiguous action. Read Dr. Kumar's op-ed.

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