Please invest in Our Daily Planet today, by making a one time or monthly contribution.
We do not charge our readers a subscription fee for our content. We want to continue to grow our readership, particularly among millennials and public servants. Voluntary contributions from readers will help us employ interns and freelance journalists, expand our content, and reach a larger audience.
If you make a contribution of $150 or more, you will become an official “Friend of the Planet” and receive a Friend of the Planet T-shirt or water bottle.
Our Daily Planet is a daily morning email (M-F) to keep you informed of the stories shaping our environment. If these issues matter to you, we’d like to be the best ten minutes of your morning.
This week, the medical journal Lancet published their annual report on health in relation to climate change, subtitling it: “code red for a healthy future.” The report delves beyond the obvious effects of wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather events — looking at food security; livelihoods; human physical and mental health — and stating concerns regarding the survival, transmission, and spread of infectious diseases on a warmer planet.
Researchers also warn that governments need to take serious action at COP26 in the near future, stating in the report that “at the current pace of reduction, it would take more than 150 years for the energy system to fully decarbonize.”
Why this Matters: According to thereport, there were 345,000 heat-related deaths in people over 65 in 2019, and currently, viruses causing diseases such as dengue, Zika, and malaria are becoming more resilient and widespread due to global mobility and environmental suitability.
“The data in this report are more than just alarming statistics and trends,” Dr. Renee Salas, a lead author of the policy brief, said in a statement. “I took an oath to protect health and prevent harm, and I can’t do that unless we address climate change.”
How the Health of the Planet Affects Public Health
The study points out that the world is spending trillions of dollars to restore the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but less than one in five of those dollarsis expected to be used towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions — which would be an effective way of curbing climate effects and deaths. According to the report, 65 out of 84 of the world’s most polluting countries subsidize a median of $1 billion to fossil fuels — money that could also be better spent protecting public health.
By Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer The EPA announced Monday that it will move toward regulating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — manmade “forever chemicals” — that don’t naturally break down and can contaminate both air and water. These chemicals, found in various household products, from dental floss to nonstick pans, can also be harmful […]
The editors of over 230 medical journals said in a statement on Monday that climate change is a health issue and that its effects could become “catastrophic” if world leaders don’t do more to address it. The health impacts of climate change include wildfire smoke–which has been linked to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases–and pollutants […]
By Amy Lupica, ODP Daily Editor The EPA has announced that it will propose the first-ever limits on the discharge of polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in wastewater. The class of chemicals, often called “forever chemicals,” can accumulate in the environment and the human body and contribute to health problems. However, public health and environmental […]
Subscribe to the email that top lawmakers, renowned scientists, and thousands of concerned citizens turn to each morning for the latest environmental news and analysis.
Want the lastest climate news summarized for you each morning?
Our Daily Planet is your daily dose of the stories shaping our world and the ways that you can take action. From the climate crisis to the protection of biodiversity, if these issues matter to you then please subscribe & stay informed!
Your privacy is Important! We promise never to use your email address to send you spam or advertisements.