Taking on environmental health risks, UN agencies aim to protect 'foundations for life' on Earth

11 January 2018

Two United Nations agencies are teaming up in a major new initiative taking on the herculean task of combatting environmental health risks, which claim an estimated 12.6 million lives a year.

The partnership, announced Wednesday, between the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), includes specific action to address air pollution, climate change and antimicrobial resistance as well as improve coordination on waste and chemicals management, water quality, and food and nutrition issues.

"Our health is directly related to the health of the environment we live in. Together, air, water and chemical hazards kill some 12.6 million people a year. This cannot and must not continue," said Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, in a news release announcing the undertaking.

Photo: open sources

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