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Climate science, denial and the Declaration of Delhi
George Laking1, Alistair Woodward, Scott Metcalfe
1Auckland Regional Cancer and Blood Service, Auckland DHB, Auckland, New Zealand. GeorgeL@adhb.govt.nz
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|February 12, 2010
Summary
Human-induced climate change is the primary health crisis. The medical profession must act on scientific evidence to mitigate its severe impacts, mirroring past public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Climate Science
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Human-induced climate change is identified as the central health issue facing humanity.
- The World Medical Association's Declaration of Delhi commits the medical profession to address climate change impacts.
- The medical profession has a history of engaging with high-stakes issues beyond traditional healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To scrutinize the scientific basis of the Declaration of Delhi in response to contrary arguments.
- To emphasize the need for evidence-based decision-making in the context of climate change.
- To draw parallels between clinical decision-making and the approach to planetary climate challenges.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing scientific evidence on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Analyzing the role of climate models in understanding observed warming.
- Evaluating the risks associated with current atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Main Results:
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions are in the multi-gigatonne range, driving climate change.
- Current variations in global temperature are alarming, even if within historical ranges.
- Climate models accurately explain observed warming and support the harmfulness of current greenhouse gas levels.
Conclusions:
- The medical profession must move beyond denial and take action on anthropogenic climate change.
- Decisions regarding climate change must be evidence-based, weighing risks despite incomplete knowledge.
- The World Medical Association's call for action is timely and necessary for global health.
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