HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CALL FOR FOSSIL FUEL TREATY TO PROTECT LIVES OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS 

As leaders across diverse religious and spiritual communities around the globe, we call on governments to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

The international scientific consensus is clear: to protect the health and lives of present and future generations we need a rapid, equitable phase-out of fossil fuels globally, so as not to exceed 1.5ºC of warming. We, the undersigned health professionals and organizations, call on governments around the world to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, laying out a legally binding global plan to:

  1. End expansion of any new fossil fuel infrastructure and production by immediately ending activity and investment across all new or expanded fossil fuel exploration, extraction, and building of infrastructure, in line with the best available science.

  2. Phase out existing production and use of fossil fuels in a fair and equitable manner in line with the 1.5C global climate goal. To address existing inequity, we call on high-income countries to provide financial, technological and other support to low- and middle-income countries in the move away from fossil fuels, ensuring the transition reduces poverty rather than exacerbating it.

  3. Fast-track real solutions and ensure a just transition for every worker, community, and country creating a healthy and sustainable future for all.  A just transition must respect Indigenous rights and the rights of local communities.

Like the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty would be an evidence-based international agreement to control a category of substances well-known to be harmful to human health. The health risks associated with fossil fuels are numerous.

Burning fossil fuels presents severe threats to human and planetary health.

  • Air pollution, most significantly from burning fossil fuels, is causing more than seven million premature deaths each year. It contributes to cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and cancers. Wildfires, made increasingly intense and common by climate change, add to this burden.

  • The climate crisis, largely caused by burning fossil fuels, is a critical health threat, exacerbating other health challenges and threatening health care systems. 

  • The warming climate creates ideal conditions for the transmission of food and water-borne diseases and spread of vector-borne diseases, undermining decades of progress in global public health. 

  • Climate change increases the risk of heat related illness and death, especially for very young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and older adults.

  • Droughts, floods, extreme weather events and sea level rise caused by climate change disrupt livelihoods, pollute water, jeopordize food security, damage infrastructure and force migration especially for populations living on small islands, coastal regions and low-lying areas.

  • Extreme weather events disrupt global medical supply chains and devastate healthcare facilities, severely impacting health workers’ ability to provide health care.

  • Climate change is taking a serious toll on mental health, exacerbating anxiety and depression, especially in young people.

There are also specific human and occupational health risks associated with every stage of fossil fuel operations including extraction, refining, manufacturing of by-products, transportation, distribution, and disposal of waste products.

  • Residential proximity to oil and gas extraction has been found to increase the incidence of respiratory ailments and poor birth outcomes, and is potentially associated with other health harms. Living near coal mines is associated with an increased risk of lung disease and cancers, and weeks lost from school and work. Extraction-related light and noise pollution, water use and pollution, ecosystem degradation, and habitat, livelihood, and community disruption also negatively impact health.

  • Proximity to petrochemical refineries, and exposure to facilities manufacturing other fossil fuel-derived products are associated with an increased risk of illnesses including childhood asthma and hematological malignancies.

  • Transportation of fossil fuels has a history of spills and explosions with acute and chronic health impacts for nearby communities and cleanup workers. 

  • Safe disposal of fossil fuel waste products remains a challenge, as waste products contain substances with known health impacts, including heavy metals and toxic chemicals.

  • Workers at extractive sites and in refineries face additional unique health risks including severe respiratory diseases and highly malignant forms of cancer, as well as injuries from fires and blasts.

  • Communities in proximity to fossil fuel activity are subject to threats and violence, including but not exclusively when they seek to protect their lands, livelihoods and health. The severity and scale of these harms are amplified within Indigenous communities due to their unique linkages to the territories where they live.

The health risks and impacts of climate change, air pollution, and proximity to extraction and processing sites are not equally distributed. They fall most heavily on communities who are least historically responsible for fossil fuel emissions, with the most limited access to the resources and power needed for redress. This includes populations in the Global South, Indigenous peoples, people facing racial and other forms of discrimination, people experiencing poverty, people with chronic health conditions, and young people.

Phasing out fossil fuel use and extraction offers an opportunity to improve health and address health inequities. Expanding access to energy through distributed, resilient and affordable carbon-free renewable energy systems will have health benefits and will maximize energy savings and efficiency. Phasing out fossil fuels would prevent 3.6 million deaths due to ambient air pollution worldwide annually. The same cannot be said for proposed false solutions, such as carbon capture and storage, which do little to protect health and introduce new risks. To protect health, we need to phase out fossil fuels altogether, taking care to ensure renewable energy projects avoid creating new health risks.

Health professionals work hard to save lives.  It is our duty to prioritize our patients’ safety, dignity and comfort and we are duty-bound to speak out about the serious global health risks posed by the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels. Efforts are underway to build low-carbon, sustainable health systems at both national and institutional levels, but to protect the health and lives of current and future generations, we must collectively do much more to rapidly reduce emissions.

Health professionals around the world recognize that all stages of the fossil fuel lifecycle present a grave and escalating threat to human health. We see this in our clinics and hospitals, caring for patients and communities suffering from health impacts of climate change, fossil fuel production, and air pollution. To protect the health of our patients and communities, now and in the future, we join the call for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The drafting of this letter was led by Global Climate Health Alliance, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Health Care Without Harm. A version of the letter with linked references is available here.

I wholeheartedly support the initiative for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The fact that the World Council of Churches Central Committee has endorsed it at its recent meeting may be a big backwind for a world which takes seriously that it is God’s creation given to us not for indiscriminate exploitation but for good care. Humans can only lead a good life together with nonhuman creation, not against it!

“

Dr. Tedros

Director-General of the World Health Organization

350 Health Organisation Signatories

Global Organisations

World Health Organization
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
World Federation of Public Health Associations
World Heart Federation
World Medical Association
Global Climate & Health Alliance
Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education
Health Care Without Harm
European Union of Medical Specialists
International Council of Nurses
International Council of Psychologists
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
International Federation of Medical Students' AssocIations
International Pediatric Association

International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation
International Primary Care Respiratory Group
International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE)
International Society for Children's Health and Environment
International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health
International Society of Doctors for the Environment, ISDE
BYCS
Environmental Physiotherapy Association
European Health Psychology Society
Médecins du Monde International Network
People's Health Movement
Planetary Health Report Card Initiative
Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the United Nations
Vital Strategies

Organisations by Country

  • Alianza Clima Vida y Salud Internacional

    Buenos Aires Sostenible

    FLACSO (Latin American School of Social Sciences)

    Fundacion Cardiologica Argentina

    Movimiento Laudato Si' - Capítulo Argentina

  • Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine

    Australian Federation of Medical Women

    Australian Health Promotion Association

    Climate and Health Alliance

    Doctors for the Environment Australia

    Healthy Futures

  • Health for Future Austria

    Österreichischer Verband Grüner Krankenhäuser ÖVGK (Austrian Green Hospital Association)

  • Fédération des maisons médicales

    Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)

    Health for Future Belgium

    Intergroupe liégeois des maisons médicales asbl

  • ACT Health Promotion

    Health Hospitals Project

  • Association Air for Health

  • Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment/Association des infirmiers et infirmières pour l'environment

    Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

    Canadian Climate Psychiatry Alliance

    Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHAE)

    Canadian Public Health Association / Association canadienne de santé publique

    Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

    Climate Emergency Institute

    Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast

    Dr. K. Goodall, psychological services, prof. Corp.

    Faculty Club, University of Toronto

    Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet GASP

    Naturopathic Doctors for Environmental and Social Trust

    Ontario Public Health Association

    Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

    Synergie Santé Environnement

    West Elgin Community Health Centre

  • Agrupación de enfermeras ecologistas

    Colegio Médico Araucanía

    Colegio Médico de Chile A.G.

    Comite de Salud Ambiental Infantil-Chile

    Cuadernos Mèdico Sociales

    Laboratorio de Cambio Social, Ciudad Viva-Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

    Rémora

  • ANHE Latinoamérica

    ESE Hospital Universitario de Santander

    Fundación Clínica Infantil Club Noel

  • Asociación Proyecto Camino Verde

    Centro Latinoamericano de Excelencia en Cambio Climático y Salud

  • Doctors for Future, Czech republic (Lékaři za budoucnost, Česká republika)

  • Læger for Klimaet

  • Lääkärin sosiaalinen vastuu, Physicians for Social Responsibility – Finland (PSR Finland)

    The Filipino Nurses Association in the Nordic Region

  • Alliance Santé Planétaire

    CHU La Réunion

  • Mbolo Association

  • Aluna Minga e.V.

    Arbeitskreis Plastik und Nachhaltigkeit in der Dermatologie (APN)

    Ärztekammer Schleswg-Holstein

    Ärztlicher Kreis- und Bezirksverband München

    Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendärzte e.V.

    Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen, BDP e.V.

    BPM, Berufsverband der Fachärzte für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie

    Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Leitenden Klinikärzte für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie e. V.

    Bundesärztekammer

    Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer - Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists in Germany

    Bundesvertretung der Medizinstudierenden in Deutschland e. V. (bvmd)

    Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit - KLUG - e.V.

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin u. Umweltmedizin (DGAUM) e.V.

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin e.V.

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Fachkrankenpflege und Funktionsdienste e. V. (DGF)

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für internistisce Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DGIIN)

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie e.V. (DGKJP)

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pflegewissenschaft e.V. (DGP)

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Soziale Psychiatrie

    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie (DGVT) e. V.

    Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft

    Deutsche PsychotherapeutenVereinigung e.V. (DPtV)

    Deutscher Berufsverband für Pflegeberufe (DBfK) e.V.

    Deutscher Hausärztverband e.V.

    Deutscher Pflegerat

    Deutscher Verband Ergotherapie e.V. (DVE)

    DOG Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e.V.

    EbM-Netzwerk - Netzwerk Evidenzbasierte Medizin e.V.

    Fraktion Gesundheit in der Ärztekammer Berlin

    German Association of Epidemiology (DGEpi)

    German Medical Association

    German Public Health Association

    German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine

    German Society of Medical Sociology (DGMS)

    German Society of Nursing Science

    German Society of Surgery

    Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie / German Society of Pediatric Rheumatology

    Gesundheitsnetz Qualität und Effizienz eG

    Global and Planetary Health working group, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Global Climate Psychology For a Just Future

    Hamburgische Krankenhausgesellschaft

    Health for Future

    Health for Future Aachen

    Health for Future Frankfurt

    Health for Future Hamburg

    Health for Future Münster

    Heath for Future Leipzig

    International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Germany

    Klimaschutz+ Stiftung e.V.

    Landesärztekammer Baden-Württemberg

    Landespflegerat Baden-Württemberg

    Marburger Bund - Verband der angestellten und beamteten Ärztinnen und Ärzte Deutschlands e.V.

    OptiMedis

    Pan African Health Systems Network

    Pharmacists for Future

    Praxis Limburt

    Professional Association of German Anaesthesiologists

    Professional Board of German Surgeons

    Protect the Planet

    RWTH Aachen University

    Sophienklinik GmbH

    Stiftung Gesunde Erde - Gesunde Menschen

    transfer e.V.

    VBMC ValueBasedManagedCare GmbH

    Verein demokratischer Pharmazeutinnen und Pharmazeuten (VdPP) e.V.

    Virchowbund, German Association of Doctors in Private Practice

  • AbibiNsroma Foundation

  • Carbone Guinée

  • AIHMS-Global

    Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health, India

    Environment & Child Health Group, Indian Academy of Pediatrics

    Environment and child health group CIAP

    Healthy Energy Initiative - India (The Other Media)

    Indian Institute for Peace Disarmament & Environmental Protection

    Lung Care Foundation

    Maharashtra Academy Of Pediatricians

    MMBSHS Trust

    Navi Mumbai Association Of Pediatrics

    Public Health Foundation of India

    SGA on environment and child health IPA

    VIKASH-SAMUKHYA

    Vydehi institute of dental sciences and research Center

    Warrior Moms India

  • Yayasan Alam Sehat Lestari

  • Irish Doctors for the Environment

    Irish Global Health Network

    Irish Society of Specialists in Public Health Medicine (ISSPHM)

    Ryan Institute, University of Galway

    Society for Social Medicine and Population Health

  • A.N.G.E.V. OdV - Sede Operativa

    CNAI Italian Nurses Association

    European Confederation of Primary Care Pediatricians

    ISDE, Associazione Medici per l'Ambiente Italia

  • Health and Global Policy Institute

  • Health and Global Policy Institute

    Dibeen For Environmental Development

  • Africa Climate and Health Alliance

  • Association of Doctors for the Environment MADE - Macedonia

  • St Anne Clinic

  • Malaysian Paediatric Association

  • Centro Estatal de Vigilancia Epidemiológica y Control de Enfermedades (CEVECE)

  • De Duurzame Verpleegkundige (The Sustainable Nurse)

    De groene SEH; The Dutch EM Climate & Health Interest group

    Dutch Emergency Medicine Climate and Health Interest group

    European Public Health Association (EUPHA)

    European Specialist Nurses Organisation

    Reclame Fossielvrij

    Zorginstituut Nederland

  • Health Environmentand Climate Action Foundation (HECAF360)

  • New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine

    OraTaiao:NZ Climate and Health Council

    Public Health Association of New Zealand

  • Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - CSOs Network

    Amaclare Connect & Development Initiative (Our Lady of Perpetual Help initiaive)

    Dr Uzo Adirieje Foundation (DUZAFOUND)

    Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment Consortium (GET)

    Nurses Across the Borders International

    Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN)/Afrihealth Optonet Association (CSOs)

  • Norwegian Medical students association

    Norwegian Physicians' Campaign against Climate Change

    Stopp oljeletinga

    The Norwegian Psychology Association

  • Sukaar Welfare Organization

    Youth Association for Development (YAD) Pakistan

  • IFMSA-PERU

  • Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center

    Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

    RISE South East Asia Alliance for Health and Climate

    St. Pauls Hospital of Iloilo, Inc.

  • Pedestrian Space

  • Qatar Medical Students' Association

  • Action for Women and Children Concern(AWCC)

  • groundWork, Friends of the Earth South Africa

    South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU)

  • Asociación Española de Pediatría

    Association for Support the Patients with Pneumonia and their Families (NEUMOAI)

    Comité, 48 Congreso de la Sociedad de Pediatria del Sureste

    DKV Seguros

    EIGA (Asociación Galega de Investigación na Enfermidade Inflamatoria Intestinal)

    medicusmundi españa

    Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit Murcia

    TECNIQ 2013, S.L.

  • Youth and Women for Change

  • Läkare i Världen (Médecins du Monde Sweden)

    Psychologist & Psychotherapists for Future Sweden

    Swedish Doctors for the Environment

  • Doctors for XR Switzerland

    ErgoTERREapie

  • Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology

  • Clean Green Tonga Incorporated

  • EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health

  • Amoru AIDS Support Community Initiative

    Kikandwa Environmental Association

    MentorPoint Africa

    SAF-TESO

    West Humanitarian Response Committee (WNHRC)

  • Airlie Medical Practice

    Association of Anaesthetists

    Association of Clinical Psychologists, UK

    Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH)

    Bodriggy Health Centre

    British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians

    British Geriatrics Society

    British Medical Association

    Chorlton Family Practice

    Climate Acceptance Studios-Ride for their Lives

    Climate and Health Scorecard Project

    Doctors in Unite

    Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA)

    European Young Family Doctors' Movement (EYFDM - formerly Vasco da Faculty of Public Health

    Gama Movement

    Green at Bart’s Health

    Green Health Wales

    Heartbeat Primary Care CIC

    Intensive Care Society

    Leeds Medact

    Main Street Medical Centre, Bridgeton, Glasgow

    Medact

    Mount Vernon Hospital

    NHS Green Bees

    Nurses United UK

    Paediatric Mental Health Association

    Pharmacy Declares

    Planetary Health Report Card

    Primary Care Respiratory Society

    Psych Declares

    Renal Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London

    Royal College of Occupational Therapists

    Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

    Royal College of Pathologists

    Royal College of Physicians

    Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

    Royal College of Psychiatrists

    Royal Pharmaceutical Society

    St Augustine's Surgery

    St Georges University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Sustainable Exercise Partnership

    The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

    The Medical Group

    Tower Hamlets GP Care Group CIC

    Transport and Health Science Group

    UK Faculty of Public Health

    UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

    Wellspring Surgery

    Wyre Forest Health Partnership

    Young People’s Health Special Interest Group, in association with Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

  • Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine

    Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet

    Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

    American College of Lifestyle Medicine

    American Medical Women's Association Physicians Georgia Branch

    Association of Academic Physiatrists

    California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice

    Center for Climate Change and Health

    Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility

    CleanEarth4Kids.org

    Climate 911

    Climate and Health Foundation

    Climate Code Blue

    Climate for Health/ecoAmerica

    Climate Health Now

    Climate Psychiatry Alliance

    Common Ground Rising

    Concerned Health Professionals of New York

    DAMASCUS Citizens for Sustainability

    George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

    Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

    Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate

    Health Promotion Consultants

    Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action

    Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate

    NC Clinicians for Climate Action

    New Hampshire Healthcare Workers for Climate Action

    Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

    Physicians Against Red Meat (PhARM)

    Physicians for Social Responsibility - Arizona Chapter

    Physicians for Social Responsibility - Maine

    Physicians for Social Responsibility - New York

    Physicians for Social Responsibility - Sacramento

    Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)

    Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado

    Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Chapter

    Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania

    Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin

    Physicians for Social Responsibility- Los Angeles

    Precision Policy Solutions, LLC

    Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the United Nations

    Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC), Climate Actions Campaign

    Puerto Rico Clinicians for Climate Action

    San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air

    San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility

    Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

    South Carolina Health Professionals for Climate Action

    Sustain Our Abilities

    Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility

    The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health

    True Health Initiative

    Vermont Climate And Health Alliance

    Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action

    Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

    West End Revitalization Association (WERA)

    Wisconsin Environmental Health Network

    Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action

    YLabs

  • CHERAD (Center for Health Environment Management R&D

  • Yemen Public Health Association

  • Centre for Natural Resource Governance

For inquiries please contact health@fossilfueltreaty.org