COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world

Atwoli, Lukoye; Erhabor, Gregory; Gbakima, Aiah; Haileamlak, Abraham; Ntumba, Jean-Marie; Kigera, James; Laybourn-Langton, Laurie; Mash, Bob; Muhia, Joy; Mulaudzi, Fhumulani; Ofori-Adjei, David; Okonofua, Friday; Rashidian, Arash; El-Adawy, Maha; Sidibé, Siaka; Snouber, Abdelmadjid; Tumwine, James; Yassien, Mohammad Sahar; Yonga, Paul; Zakhama, Lilia; Zielinski, Chris

doi:10.21608/mid.2022.266555

COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world

Document Type : Editorials

Authors

¹ East African Medical Journal Editor-In-Chief

² West African Journal of Medicine Editor-In-Chief

³ Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical Research Editor-In-Chief

⁴ Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences Editor-In-Chief

⁵ Annales Africaines de Medecine Editor-In-Chief

⁶ Annals of African Surgery Editor-In-Chief

⁷ University of Exeter

⁸ African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine Editor-In-Chief

⁹ London School of Medicine and Tropical Hygiene Editor-In-Chief

¹⁰ Curationis Editor-In-Chief

¹¹ Ghana Medical Journal Editor-In-Chief

¹² African Journal of Reproductive Health Editor-In-Chief

¹³ Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Executive Editor

¹⁴ Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Director of Health Promotion

¹⁵ Mali Médical Director of Publication

¹⁶ Journal de la Faculté de Médecine d’Oran Managing Editor

¹⁷ African Health Sciences Editor-in-Chief

¹⁸ Evidence-Based Nursing Research Editor-in-Chief

¹⁹ East African Medical Journal Managing Editor

²⁰ La Tunisie Médicale Editor-in-Chief

²¹ University of Winchester

10.21608/mid.2022.266555

Abstract

Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate change.
The 2022 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) paints a dark picture of the future of life on earth, characterised by ecosystem collapse, species extinction, and climate hazards such as heatwaves and floods. These are all linked to physical and mental health problems, with direct and indirect consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. To avoid these catastrophic health effects across all regions of the globe, there is broad agreement—as 231 health journals argued together in 2021—that the rise in global temperature must be limited to less than 1.5^oC compared with pre-industrial levels.
While the Paris Agreement of 2015 outlines a global action framework that incorporates providing climate finance to developing countries, this support has yet to materialise. COP27 is the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP) to be organised in Africa since its inception in 1995. Ahead of this meeting, we—as health journal editors from across the continent—call for urgent action to ensure it is the COP that finally delivers climate justice for Africa and vulnerable countries. This is essential not just for the health of those countries, but for the health of the whole world.

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