Environment and health - a united front on SLCP

On behalf of the Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services,
Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, I warmly welcome the initiative to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants.

There is an obvious health gain linked to putting Short Lived Climate Pollutants higher up, on both the global and the national agenda.

Air pollution and health is ranked as the second most important health risk factor globally, when you look at indoor and outdoor air pollution combined. This is a global challenge, but is important nationally as well.

In Norway, especially during winter, the population in our cities are in some periods exposed to high pollution levels.

Air pollution in cities, in general reduces physical activity.
Some population groups are more vulnerable to air pollution than others, and for some groups this therefore constitutes a barrier for outdoor activity.

In addition, we also face the long term health impact of climate change.

Directly, through changing weather patterns and extreme events, such as storms, landslides, avalanches and floods. These entail a health risk in the form of injuries to people.

Indirectly, through changes in water, air and food quality and in the planet’s life-support systems.

By enabling more active transport modes – like walking and cycling - we increase physical activity, reduce local air pollution and reduce climate change.

This illustrates that concrete actions may positively affect both climate change and air pollution, and increase physical activity at the same time – a real triple-win situation.

In my opinion, it is important that the health component of the coalition is strengthened. Work in this area will have a positive health impact, and it will give more momentum to the work of the coalition as well. 

The health argument is a strong case. From this point of view, we support the action points on health and environment.   

And in my view there is also room for even more concrete work in this important area within the Coalition.

We could really need a plan of action to prevent air pollution-related diseases from health-harmful Short Lived Climate Pollutants.

I will conclude by declaring that it will be a pleasure for the Norwegian Ministry of Health to bring this important issue also into the discussions of the World Health Assembly.

 

Thank you.