Have you seen the recent news on Delhi government shutting down schools, and halting the construction after air pollution levels shot up again? It’s no surprise with the severe air quality. Remember the odd-even rule? Cars with odd and even plates were allowed on roads on alternate days. This is the response to the rising air pollution. But, banning these activities won’t solve the problem. And it's not the only state, in Ahmedabad too, we can feel the air pollution rising. My spouse and I often talk about how we can see a layer of smog through our windows.

Air pollution affects our health. It causes increased health risks like respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. In 2019, air pollution caused about 6.7 million deaths. It’s so alarming that it requires proactive actions - not just from the government but also from our end. We need to reduce the air pollution levels, to stop deforestation and take steps toward a more sustainable & healthy environment. One of the contributors to air pollution is burning garbage in the open. Not only is this harmful to the environment but it’s also harmful to our health because it’s usually mixed materials including plastic which releases toxic chemicals that are not good for our health. At Saathi, we are doing our bit to reduce waste and avoid single-use plastics.

Air pollution and climate change are closely interlinked, so by reducing air pollution we also protect the climate. If we see the climate around us, it’s changing at a rapid speed. It’s changing our entire eco-system which is affecting our health.

Climate Change, Sustainability, and Health Go Hand-in-Hand

Climate change, sustainability and health are deeply connected with each other. The unseasonal rainfall, floods, storms and heat waves are caused by climate change. Unseasonal rains lead to the increased spread of diseases like malaria and dengue. Floods and more severe, frequent storms lead to injuries and sometimes loss of lives. The rise in temperatures is so severe that we have seen cases of air-conditioners exploding this year. Climate change is also affecting crop yields and water availability leading to malnutrition and dehydration. It’s a wake-up call for all of us!

On a global level, climate change is a loud and clear reminder that action can’t wait. It’s not something that one single country can tackle alone. It’s a collective responsibility. We share the same planet. That’s why global conferences like COP29 are being held.

Understanding COP29: A Global Climate Summit

COP29 or the 29th Conference of the Parties is a gathering under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) who is working to find solutions for climate change. This year, it was held from November 11 to November 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.  Several countries (198 in total) from around the world have come together to measure progress and negotiate the best ways to address climate change. The first ever COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. Since then, COP meets every year. The two pillars of the COP29 vision are enhancing ambition and enabling action. The first pillar, enhancing ambition, ensures that all the countries commit to ambitious national plans. The second pillar, enabling action, reflects the critical role of finance to turn ambition into action and reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and address loss and damage.

COP29 is a high-level meeting where several sub events would be taking place based on the thematic days and initiatives will be discussed. COP29 has thematic days focusing on energy/peace, science, technology and innovation, food, agriculture and water, and nature. This year there is an acknowledgement from the COP president that health needs to be on the agenda. 

Key Health-Focused Initiatives At COP29

“Human health and climate change are fundamentally linked. I am pleased to…further embed health in the climate agenda. These efforts will help unify policy approaches for climate and health work.” – COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev.

This year COP29 plans to advance health-related commitments made in previous COPs. This COP held the First Holistic Human Development Day on November 18th. It was dedicated to addressing challenges to health, human development and education in the context of climate change.

“We have two objectives. One is making sure that everybody understands that the climate crisis is a health crisis, and that climate change is negatively affecting our health, and we need to respond to that. The second objective is to convince all the negotiators, participants, and member states that whatever they do to mitigate the process of climate change will have enormous potential health benefits,” said Neira, who directs the WHO’s Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health.

One of the health focused initiatives being launched at this COP was the Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience. The goal is to deliver various outcomes on human development, including catalyzing investment in education, skills, health, and well-being, in particular for children and youth, establishing COP-to-COP continuity, and enhancing environmental literacy through education standards. This initiative is of utmost importance because it’s about improving our lives to drive sustainable, inclusive growth while ensuring health and well-being for everyone. 

Another health focused initiative is the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health. The goal is for visionary leaders from past, current and future COP presidencies to come together, in association with the World Heath Organization to work on the climate agenda with a key focus on health. They will promote the permanent integration of health into the climate agenda. 

 “This initiative unites the visionary leadership of five COP presidencies that span this critical time for action, underscoring a commitment to elevate health within the climate agenda.” Said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “This coalition represents a collective will to prioritize climate and health now and for the future.”

A Healthier Planet, A Brighter Future

There is a lot of criticism going around COP and its success especially due to some of the controversies surrounding this year’s host. Things at an international level take time as there are many bodies involved and many considerations. We can definitely have opinions and fight for what is right, but taking action at the ground level is the most impactful and immediate thing we can do. We cannot always wait for leadership to take the steps first. 

We can take steps to reduce climate impacts on people’s health, such as planting more trees, reducing consumption, reducing waste and emissions, avoiding use of single-use plastics, composting, and buying durable products. In case you’re looking for tips on any of these things or more information on what you can do, we have two series you can check out! Terra Talks is a YouTube series that breaks down all sorts of topics related to climate change, sustainability, waste management and composting. The episodes are short and bite-sized. Check out Terra Talks episode 10 to learn more about waste management or Terra Talks episode 11 to learn more about composting. We also have a garden series where we break down tips for starting your own home garden. We cover everything from selecting your first plant based on climate to growing it from a seed to composting!

We can spread awareness about climate change and the risks to people’s health. We can hold organizations and governments accountable for their actions and commitments by demanding change. We can use our every day consumer choices to support organizations who do positively impact the environment and our health. Let’s make change together for a healthier planet and a brighter future! 

Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

A Holistic Approach: Saathi's Vision for Health and Climate

This year COP is looking to discuss the topics in a more holistic way. Similarly, at Saathi we have a holistic approach. Saathi is one of the few companies that addresses 9 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is more than half of them. We are dedicated to creating innovative, eco-friendly menstrual products that avoid plastic waste and harmful chemicals. Our commitment goes beyond product development; we actively support women's health and economic empowerment by uplifting marginalized communities and minimizing environmental impact. We are creating a positive impact through all-women manufacturing units supporting their livelihood, providing farmers with additional income, reducing CO2 emissions and manufacturing chemical-free, plastic-free sanitary pads. 

We recognize the critical link between menstrual health, environmental sustainability, and overall well-being. Through our educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, we strive to inform and empower individuals about this connection, fostering a holistic understanding of health in the context of climate change.

We are thrilled that health has achieved a permanent position on the agenda of the UN climate summit, a significant milestone marked at COP29 in Baku via the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health. However, while this is a step forward, it doesn’t make health a formal negotiation topic.

The low attendance at the WHO event during COP29 and the absence of concrete action plans have highlighted ongoing frustrations among delegates and civil society regarding the slow pace of climate negotiations. There is a pressing need for actionable commitments that translate discussions into tangible outcomes.

As we look ahead to COP30 in Brazil, we are hopeful for more substantial health initiatives. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to prioritize health and climate action, which could shift the focus to taking action. We urge all stakeholders to commit to funding health-related climate initiatives, as current actions remain severely underfunded, capturing only a small fraction of adaptation funding.

At Saathi, we are committed to driving positive change by continuing our efforts in producing sustainable products and advocating for policies that promote both health and environmental sustainability. Together, we can forge a healthier future for our planet and its people.

References:
https://cop29.az/en/home

https://unfccc.int/cop29

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/what-are-united-nations-climate-change-conferences

https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/supreme-bodies/conference-of-the-parties-cop

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health

https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-health