Mr Daniel Tarantola is Professor of Health and Human Rights, University of New South Wales and Chair of its Initiative for Helath and Human Rights. He was formerly a senior advisor to the World Health Organization, supervising the team responsible for eradicating smallpox worldwide. He played a key role in the creation of Medicins Sans Frontieres.
Will Climate Change Impact the Right to Health and Development?
Never before in human history has the world had such a wealth of knowledge, skills and resources invested in keeping its communities well. Why, then, is global health heading into a perfect storm? A human rights-based approach -- framed in terms of the right to the highest attainable standard of health, and the right to the basic determinants of health such as clean water and food, shelter, education, health services and equality -- is the most promising. Through this lens, the circumstances of those most at risk can be holistically addressed.