Friday, 16 September 2022

A 'Non-Proliferation Treaty' For Fossil Fuels?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and 200 other health associations signed a letter, asking governments to agree to a legally-binding plan phasing out fossil fuel exploration and production (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/14/fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty-who-environmental-vandilism). WHO officials maintain that our current addiction to fossil fuels is an act of 'environmental vandalism'. They also say, however, "From a health perspective, it is an act of self-sabotage". Historically, the WHO and health associations made a similar response to tobacco. A certain degree of patchy progress eventually resulted, decades later. The chances of achieving a timely, successful non-proliferation treaty for fossil fuels, unfortunately, seems markedly slim. Fossil fuel use is currently escalating and, of course, it's not just governments who are involved.

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