This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined together to protect environmental and public health. The agreement stems from a place of concern over the dramatic public health effects climate change and global warming will have on individuals not only in the United States, but all over the world.
Joining forces: US EPA and WHO. Picture by Shutterstock
Both organizations signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate “on a wide range of specific and crosscutting environment and health issues, particularly air pollution, water and sanitation, children’s health, and health risks due to climate change” (1).
The organizations have made clear that they are committed to “addressing the needs of vulnerable and underserved communities”, since this “collaboration with the WHO has never been more critical”, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic (1).
This collaboration is critical since the environment is linked to 24% of all global deaths and 28% of deaths among children under five (1). Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to understand and nurture the connection between humans and our environment. Since “addressing those links is essential to prevent diseases, including future pandemics”, this collaboration will certainly save lives and protect individuals around the world (1).
To learn more about this partnership, click the link below:
Citation:
- “U.S. EPA and WHO Partner to Protect Public Health.” Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2022-u.s.-epa-and-world-health-organization-partner-to-protect-public-health.
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