Main

http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/climate-change Published online June 23, 2015

Societal action (upstream) to shape the determinants of oral health were at the heart of the 9th World Congress on Preventive Dentistry, Phuket, Thailand ('Community Participation and Global Alliances for Lifelong Oral Health for All' as reported in Adv Dent Res 2010;22: 2–30). This edition of The Lancet examines the effects of climate change on health (particularly heart and lung diseases in the elderly) and proposes solutions.

The substantive paper is some 53 pages long. Solutions are focussed on national policies to enable societal action. Some of the recommendations made by this, The 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, are the phasing out of coal-fired plants and a cautious transition from natural gas to renewable energy, particularly in order to reduce particulate matter (especially PM2.5 – particle matter of <2.5 μm that is considered especially damaging to health).

In addition, conurbations should facilitate healthy lifestyles by creating green spaces and building cycle ways to encourage exercise. On a governmental level, there should be a robust international carbon pricing mechanism. Agencies should be integrated irrespective of national boundaries, avoiding any 'siloed approach'.

US President Barack Obama, with less than half of his final term remaining in the White House, is making a 'bold political commitment' (World Report. Obama steps up US campaign on climate change. 2015; 385: April 25). He is recruiting Google and Microsoft, in addition to downstream agencies, to create a coalition of partners. His intervention is pertinent as the Obama's eldest child suffered a severe asthma attack when four years old. Climate change has extended the pollen season increasing the risk of allergy and asthma attacks.

In addition, climate change may be increasing the numbers of insect vectors and possibly rainfall. However, Mitch McConnell, the Republican US Senate majority leader, has urged governors of all 50 states to reject the US Environmental Protection Agency mandating 30% cuts in 2005 levels of carbon pollution by 2030. It is argued that apart from the economic implication of such an action, this would only be symbolic unless other major nations impose similar restrictions. Such are these threats and opportunities this Commission has been charged to report every two years in The Lancet, the effects of slowing or indeed reversing climate change.