In a recent announcement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the global population to consume less meat and more plant-based foods, a move it believes is necessary to combat climate change.
The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his concern over the issue in a video address. He stated, "Our food systems are harming the health of people and planet. Food systems contribute to over 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and account for almost one-third of the global burden of disease. Transforming food systems is therefore essential by shifting for this healthier, diversified and more plant-based diets."
Dr. Tedros further emphasized the potential benefits of this transformation, asserting, "If food systems deliver healthy diets for all we could save 8 million lives per year." He also expressed the WHO's commitment to aiding countries in developing and implementing policies to improve diets and combat climate change. He expressed his satisfaction that over 130 countries have signed the code 28 UAE Declaration on climate and health, adding, "Together, we can protect and promote the health of both people and planet. Thank you."
Several of Dr. Tedros' remarks are featured on a United Nations nutrition page titled "For People, Planet and Prosperity: Nutrition at COP28." The page advocates for the unification of global leaders behind commitments and plans to achieve the Paris Agreement, which it inaccurately refers to as a "legally binding UN treaty to tackle climate change and limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5C."
However, as reported by the Daily Wire, the Paris Accord simply encourages nation-states to make "non-binding commitments on climate change."
The nutrition page also discusses the adoption of "The Global Stocktake," which, according to the page, "features the groundbreaking agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, and calls on countries to implement integrated, multisectoral solutions to deliver sustainable, climate-resilient food systems as a climate change adaptation measure." The page acknowledges that while this represents a significant advancement, there is still disappointment among many who believe "the phase out of fossil fuels did not go far enough, and food systems parameters did not go deeper into mitigation and efforts to deliver dietary shifts."
The page concludes by stating that "this is a huge step forward- we are still only at the start of the journey" and encourages readers to "Stay tuned!"
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