ABOUT THE
CAMPAIGN
End fossil fuel subsidies – protect health and climate
Stop governments funding ill health and climate chaos
Fossil fuel subsidies cause pollution, provoke premature deaths, spread disease and endanger the climate. Choose Health – End Fossil Fuels Subsidies, a campaign by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), aims to shed light on the public health opportunity that a full phase out of fossil fuel subsidies and a subsequent end of the fossil fuels era would present.
We call on governments to stop providing public funds to one of the world‘s most polluting industries and to make the full transition to renewables, protecting our health and preventing rapid global warming.
Read more...
What are fossil fuel subsidies and who gives them to whom?
Subsidies are given when governments or government-owned institutions decide to give a helping hand to a business, an industry or consumers. Subsidies to fossil fuel companies are any government action that lowers the cost of producing coal, oil and gas. Governments help fossil fuel companies in many different ways – via direct payments, tax breaks, loan guarantees, cheap rental of public land or R&D grants – but the result is always the same: subsidies artificially lower the price of dirty energy.
The cheaper fossil fuels are, the more we burn. The more we burn, the sicker we get and the more our planet heats up.
Why should governments stop giving subsidies to fossil fuel companies?
Subsidies are a good mechanism if used appropriately. Unfortunately, some subsidies such as for fossil fuel production increase the production of products that harm our health and the environment while benefitting big business more than the poor and vulnerable.
The Paris Climate Deal of December 2015 signalled the end of the fossil fuel era. Governments agreed that we have to stop pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere if we are to prevent catastrophic climate change. Whereas science shows that a full decarbonization needs to take place before by 2050, most governments keep supporting the industry with public funds, which drives the use of coal, oil and gas discourages investment in renewables and harms health and the climate.
If governments truly want to support the Paris climate agreement, then they need to phase out subsidies to the fossil fuel industry as quickly as possible.
What does Choose Health aim to do?
Choose Health aims to build momentum for the phase out of fossil fuels subsidies, especially for coal power generation, by stimulating awareness and engagement in the medical community. The Health and Environment Alliance has a strong track record in bringing evidence and knowledge about climate change and health to the forefront of deliberations at EU and international level and is determined to use this expertise to help end the use of fossil fuel subsidies in the European region.
As a coalition of medical professionals, key decision makers and concerned citizens, we call on governments to stop subsidising early death, ill health and catastrophic climate change. We want an end to fossil fuel subsidies.
Only if we all stand up and speak with one voice will we persuade governments to act against the powerful fossil fuel industry.
Call on G20 leaders
As a group, the G20 must set a deadline and commit to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies preferably by 2020 and by latest 2025 in the case of less developed nations.
Call on the EU
EU governments must shift subsidies away from fossil fuels and towards healthy renewable energy sources. The EU needs to show leadership and pave the way for a G20 fossil fuel subsidy phase out.
SHARE THE
FACTS
Fossil fuels harm our air, our water and our land. In 2013 coal emissions alone were responsible for 22,900 premature deaths in the EU.
Yet, G20 countries spend $444 billion each year subsidising the production of fossil fuels.
On top of that, the external costs to our health and environment created by fossil fuels are 10 times this amount.
Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is a public health opportunity that saves lives, protects the climate and frees up funds for renewable energies and public services.
Fossil fuels have a two-fold burden on human health:
air pollution and climate change
Fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change, which impacts the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. But as well as increases in morbidity and mortality due to climate change, fossil fuels are causing poor health and early deaths through dangerous air pollution already today.
Long-term exposure to air pollutants affects the lungs and the heart. The results include chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Acute effects include coughing as well as asthma attacks. Research suggests that air pollution may also result in low birth weight and pre-term delivery. According to the WHO, outdoor air pollution was estimated to cause 3 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012.
KEY
COUNTRY PROFILES
Governments helping polluters pollute-worldwide. Click the flags below to discover facts and figures about each country.
CHINA
GERMANY
INDIA
POLAND
SOUTH AFRICA
TURKEY
UNITED KINGDOM
PHASING OUT GLOBAL SUBSIDIES TO OIL, GAS AND COAL WOULD…
TAKE
ACTION
Get Involved. Help us spread the word about fossil fuels subsidies by downloading and using the following assets.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
Health and medical professionals have a unique role to play in encouraging a transition from fossil fuels to healthy energy sources worldwide. They should speak out about the adverse health effects caused by fossil fuel subsidies and point to both the harm done to human health and the funds wasted on unhealthy policies. The health sector should initiate debates on healthy energy options with the ministry of health, ministry of energy and other governmental institutions, as well with the public. Raising awareness about the interlinkages of fossil fuel subsidies and health will help benefit public health in the short- and long-run.
AS A
MEDICAL / HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Join the campaign as an individual or organization – sign up for more information.
Would you like to submit a quote on why subsidies are bad for health? This would allow us to use your words and name in campaign work.
Circulate our materials via email and social media.
AS A
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Join the campaign as an individual– sign up for more information.
Circulate our materials via email and social media.
AS AN
ORGANISATION PROMOTING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Sign your organisation up to the campaign.
Circulate our materials to your members via email and social media.
Invite your members to circulate our materials.
Invite your members to retweet our campaign messages.
