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December 30, 2024Experts Highlight Urgent Ethical Challenges At Climate Change, Health, And Ethics Event
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 – On Friday, experts from around the world gathered at Universiti Malaya to engage in a crucial conversation on how climate change is impacting health and the ethical challenges that arise in addressing these issues.
The program opened with a welcoming address by Dr. Mohammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya. Moderated by Professor Tony Capon of Monash University, the event featured thought-provoking presentations from key speakers, starting with Dr. Katherine Littler of the World Health Organization. She highlighted the need for ethical policy responses to climate change, stressing the importance of co-creating research agendas that honor diverse knowledge systems. Littler also underscored the moral responsibility we hold toward future generations as we confront these global environmental challenges.
Dr. Amelia Turagabeci, Associate Professor in Environmental Health, provided a regional perspective on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in the Pacific Islands. She shared how these communities, already facing significant health threats, are further burdened by limited resources, underscoring the urgent need for targeted support.
From the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, Dr. Yasna Palmeiro Silva presented alarming findings from the 2024 report, which revealed the growing health risks associated with delayed action on climate change. She stressed that slow responses are increasing the risks to global health, urging immediate shifts in funding to address the issue more effectively.
Closer to home, Professor Tin Tin Su from Monash University shared findings from Malaysia’s national survey on climate change, which showed that extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and heavy rains have directly affected a large portion of the population. Her research highlighted the growing concern among Malaysians about the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in climate resilience.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking address from Associate Professor Caesar Atuire of the University of Oxford and University of Ghana, who framed climate change as an ethical issue of justice. He called for greater respect for the environment, arguing that those most vulnerable to climate impacts are bearing an unjustly large portion of the burden.
A panel discussion rounded off the session, with experts emphasizing the need for a more integrated approach to health, climate policy, and prevention. They also touched on the important role of the legal system in protecting the environment and advocating for climate justice.
The event was closed by Dr. Sharon Kaur, who thanked attendees and participants for contributing to the conversation, stressing the importance of continued collaboration in addressing climate-related health and ethical challenges.
