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Swiss parliament dismisses climate ruling favoring older women
Swiss lawmakers have rejected a European court's ruling that weak climate policies violate the human rights of older women.
In short:
- The European court ruled Switzerland's weak climate policies endanger older women, violating their human rights.
- The Swiss lower house voted 111-72 to dismiss the ruling, claiming judicial overreach and sufficient national efforts.
- Activists, including the KlimaSeniorinnen group, argue this sets a dangerous precedent and betrays vulnerable populations.
Key quote:
"The declaration is a betrayal of us older women – and of all those who are suffering from the real consequences of global warming today and in the future."
— Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti, co-president of KlimaSeniorinnen
Why this matters:
Critics of the Swiss decision argue that dismissing the ruling neglects the urgent need for robust climate policies to protect all citizens, especially the most vulnerable. They point to rising temperatures and increasing instances of heatwaves, which have significant health impacts on older populations, particularly women. Advocates stress that addressing climate change is not just an environmental imperative but also a moral and human rights issue.
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Credit: Jerry Zhang/Unsplash
China faces urgent need to tackle air pollution mortality risk
In a recent study, scientists reveal the urgent need for China to address its escalating air pollution deaths to protect its growing elderly population.
In short:
- Researchers found that air pollution deaths in China could start to increase again due to the country's ageing population and existing health vulnerabilities.
- Despite significant improvements and the implementation of comprehensive air pollution action plans, China still lags behind global standards.
- The study suggests that deaths related to air pollution could rise by 116,000 to 181,000 annually from 2030 to 2060 without more aggressive action.
Key quote:
"The same level of air pollution will have a greater impact on an older and less healthy population with increased levels of diseases impacted by air pollution."
— Michael Brauer, professor at the University of British Columbia
Why this matters:
Vulnerable populations worldwide, including children, the elderly, and those with preexisting health conditions are more susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution, which can exacerbate asthma, lead to lung cancer, and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. The situation is more dire in lower-income communities and developing nations, where regulatory and health infrastructures are often lacking, exposing residents to higher pollution levels without adequate protection or healthcare support.
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Image by Gundula Vogel from Pixabay
Risk of wildfire smoke in long-term care facilities is worse than you'd think
"An astonishing amount of smoke gets inside these facilities," said one researcher who spent the past three wildfire seasons collecting data from monitors installed in long-term care facilities.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
How Raleigh plans to use funding for climate change education
Raleigh recently won a federal grant to help protect communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including flood damage and heat-related illness.
Photo by Julie Ricard on Unsplash
The era of climate migration is here, leaders of vulnerable nations say
Heads of climate-vulnerable nations gathered on the sidelines of a United Nations climate summit to call for new policies and agreements to manage the millions of people who are being forced from their homes by extreme weather.
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
Volunteers help identify heat-vulnerable neighborhoods in San Francisco
San Francisco is known for its moderate climate. But as the global climate warms, the Bay Area is expected to experience more heat waves — and many residents lack an air-conditioned place to cool off.
Newsletter
Vulnerable communities must call the shots on loss and damage fund
With the decision to create a loss and damage fund at Cop27, three decades of campaigning from small island states and other developing countries finally paid off.
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