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October 20, 2021

Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Lancet Health and Climate Change Global Report

(Washington, DC) – Today, the Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, released its annual report: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. The report, now in its sixth year, tracks the impact of climate change on human health. This year’s report also details the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for recovery investments to help build equitable mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change. Among other important findings, the report highlights the inequities in global efforts to address climate change and that healthcare systems are ill-prepared for current and future health impacts from climate change.

Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement.

“Like previous iterations of the Lancet Countdown, the 2021 report again sounds the alarm on climate change and its effect on public health. We all feel the impacts of the climate crisis, but we do not experience it equally. We must protect the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us, including disadvantaged communities who are hit first, worst, and hardest by many climate-related disasters and diseases. This report also highlights the compounding crises we are facing as a nation as we continue to fight and recover from a global pandemic. As Chairwoman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I will continue to support robust investments in research and development efforts to mitigate carbon emissions and address climate change impacts, which play a large role in public health. The Lancet report, along with the IPCC and NOAA reports also released this year, make clear that we must act now. I look forward to building on the findings of this report to continue to take meaningful action towards equitable climate solutions that protect public health. As we work together to recover from this pandemic, we must ensure we build back with smart solutions to the climate crisis that will enable a brighter, safer future for all.”