In December 2015, France will host the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21). This international conference highlights the willingness of the 200 participating governments to limit climate disruption and its consequences for the Earth’s natural system.

To ensure its success, numerous activities are being arranged prior to COP21. From 7 to 11 July, UNESCO is organising a scientific conference entitled “Our Common Future Under Climate Change.” The aim is to assess the risks from climate change from a scientific point of view, and to propose actions for reducing carbon emissions.

In this context, Inserm is committed to highlighting the crucial role that health and those working in the health sector can play in the coming months and years to make climate-related issues a central concern for our societies. Indeed, we often forget that if global warming is affecting the planet’s ecosystem, the fauna and flora, we are also in the front line of its effects. Conversely, we can also have an influence on climate. For example, by changing our diet to one based on vegetables and less meat, it would be possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%[1].

[1] Green, R, Milner, J, Dangour, AD et al. The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK through healthy and realistic dietary change. Clim Change. 2015; 129: 253–265

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