Episode 10 features Jess Beagley, the Policy Lead at The Global Health and Climate Alliance, with Dr Megan Arthur and Prof. Sharon Friel.
COP28 in Dubai saw a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at the heart of the international climate negotiations, while communities whose health and lives are most affected by planetary crises were severely under-represented. These imbalances in power were traceable in the decisions which emerged, which fell short of the commitments needed to protect the health of people and planet.
Meanwhile, health considerations, including those relating to air quality, are also often not deeply integrated into climate plans at country level. However, we can hope to see ambitious climate policy making to protect wellbeing through: improved representation of vulnerable communities and their priorities in policy fora, collaboration and strengthened messaging by civil society, cooperation across national Ministries responsible for planetary health issues, and regulation of industry participation.
The Saving the World Webinar Series is presented by the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse, the series discusses the intersections between climate change, inequity, and human health. The focus is on actions that enable transformative change away from the harmful consumptogenic system to systems that promote good health, social equity and environmental wellbeing.
Event Speakers
Jess Beagley
Jess leads GCHA’s policy work, including raising the profile of health in UNFCCC negotiations, assessing Nationally Determined Contributions as key components of a healthy and sustainable recovery, working with national partners on local policy processes, and research and analysis. She has a background in public health and environmental determinants.
Megan Arthur
Dr Megan Arthur is a Laureate Research Fellow with the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse. She is an interdisciplinary qualitative researcher working at the intersection of social policy and public health. She studies the politics of governance for health and wellbeing at multiple levels.
Sharon Friel
Prof Sharon Friel is an ARC Laureate Fellow, Professor of Health Equity and Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Governance at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), Australian National University. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia and co-Director of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in the Social Determinants of Health Equity.