COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev’s Bold Opening Remarks

Setting the tone, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev launched the ceremony with a sobering message. “Colleagues, we are on a road to ruin,” he stated bluntly, calling attention to the harsh reality of the climate crisis. “But these are not future problems. Climate change is already here. Whether you see them or not, people are suffering in the shadows. They are dying in the dark, and they need more than compassion, more than prayers and paperwork. They are crying out for leadership and action.”

Babayev’s words underscored the profound human impact of climate change that often goes unseen. In his view, COP29 represents an “unmissable moment” to carve a meaningful path forward that transcends political pledges and delivers concrete action for vulnerable communities worldwide. His rallying call emphasised the urgency for nations to honour the Paris Agreement and support its objectives to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A Moment of Truth for Global Cooperation

President Babayev urged delegates to view COP29 as a pivotal test of the global commitment to the Paris Agreement. His words were stark: “We need much more from all of you. COP29 is a moment of truth for the Paris Agreement. It will test our commitment to the multilateral climate system. We must now demonstrate that we are prepared to meet the goals we have set ourselves.”

As nations prepare to navigate difficult negotiations over climate finance and emission targets, Babayev’s challenge places the burden of action on the world’s most powerful economies and governments, pressing them to put politics aside and prioritise climate over profit.

Outgoing COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber’s Closing Advice

Following Babayev’s remarks, Sultan Al Jaber, outgoing president of COP28, encouraged attendees to take a hopeful, action-driven negotiation approach. “I urge you all to prove once again that we can unite, act, and deliver,” Al Jaber said, stressing the importance of collective action in a world where political will often falters. He reminded leaders that results must “outlast the rhetoric,” urging them to channel positivity as they seek pragmatic solutions.

In a memorable line, he declared, “We are what we do, not what we say,” an appeal for delegates to let their actions speak louder than words. For Al Jaber, the focus should remain on tangible results that benefit all nations, especially those already bearing the brunt of climate impacts.

UNFCCC Climate Chief Simon Stiell on Finance and Resilience

A central issue at COP29 is the need for increased climate finance to support developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate impacts. UNFCCC Climate Chief Simon Stiell took the stage with a frank reminder that climate finance is not an act of charity but a matter of global self-interest. “Here in Baku, we must agree on a new global climate finance goal. If at least two-thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation pays a brutal price.”

Stiell highlighted the potential consequences if nations fail to act, warning that the fragility of global supply chains and economic systems could spell disaster if they are not built to withstand climate shocks. “If nations can’t build resilience into supply chains, the entire global economy will be brought to its knees. No country is immune,” he cautioned.

Calling for ambitious targets, Stiell noted that finance reform is essential to give countries the necessary fiscal space. “We must work harder to reform the global financial system,” he said, insisting that fiscal reforms are key to equipping vulnerable nations with the resources to invest in climate resilience. He ended his address with a strong message: “We cannot leave Baku without a substantial outcome.”

The Path Forward: New Goals, Financial Commitments, and Accountability

COP29’s opening ceremony made it clear that this summit will be judged on its ability to secure solid financial commitments and actionable climate goals. Substantial financial support is critical for developing nations to implement emissions reductions and adapt to climate impacts. Babayev’s call for “leadership and action,” Al Jaber’s emphasis on “actions over words,” and Stiell’s insistence on a reformed financial framework all point towards the weighty expectations facing this year’s summit.

Leaders are expected to negotiate a new climate finance target, building on the $100 billion annual commitment made in 2009 that developed nations have yet to realise fully. Additionally, discussions will address the structural reform of financial institutions to support climate action in the most vulnerable regions. These issues will likely spark contentious debates, but the consensus is that failure is not an option.

A Defining Moment for Climate Diplomacy

As COP29 unfolds, the challenge for leaders will be to bridge the gap between ambition and action, especially given the year’s climate-fuelled disasters. The calls for reform, responsibility, and results at the opening ceremony reflect a shift in tone, with leaders of developing nations no longer content to wait for incremental progress.

COP29’s start signals a new phase in climate diplomacy that demands accountability from the global community. As Babayev noted, “COP29 is a moment of truth.” The question is whether leaders will heed this call and deliver tangible outcomes that protect our shared future. COP29 can potentially be a historic turning point — provided nations commit to real change.

The post COP29 Opening Ceremony: Leaders Call for Bold Action Amid Global Climate Crisis appeared first on Medika Life.

The Alarming Thresholds

The Global Tipping Points report, a landmark study by a team of 200 researchers funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, alarmingly indicates that humanity is on the cusp of breaching five critical natural thresholds. These include the collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, the extensive permafrost thawing, the dying off of coral reefs in warm waters, and the breakdown of atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic. These shifts are not incremental but can cause the climate to abruptly shift from one state to another, leading to irreversible and extensive impacts.

The Domino Effect of Tipping Points

Tim Lenton from the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute highlights the profound implications of these tipping points, stating, “Tipping points in the Earth system pose threats of a magnitude never faced by humanity.” He discusses the cascading effects, including the loss of vital ecosystems and agricultural capability, which can lead to societal upheavals like mass displacement, political instability, and economic collapse.

Three More Tipping Points on the Horizon

The report also cautions that three additional systems may reach their tipping points in the 2030s if global warming exceeds 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. These include mangroves, seagrass meadows, and boreal forests, with a tipping point between 1.4C and 5C warming.

The COP28 Climate Summit and Emissions Targets

In the context of these warnings, the COP28 climate summit in Dubai takes on even greater significance. However, Climate Action Tracker’s recent estimates suggest that 2030 emissions targets would result in a 2.5C rise in temperature by the end of the century, significantly overshooting the 1.5C goal.

Feedback Loops and Cascading Effects

The report underscores the potential for feedback loops that can exacerbate global warming or trigger other tipping points. For example, melting the Greenland ice sheet could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, impacting global weather patterns, including the El Niño southern oscillation.

The Uncertainty and Urgency

Despite uncertainties around the timing of these shifts, co-author Sina Loriani from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research emphasises the urgency, noting the irreversible changes these thresholds could trigger for centuries to come.

IPCC’s Findings on Tipping Points

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports these findings, acknowledging that while precise tipping points are unclear, the risks become more acute with increasing temperatures.

The Flip Side: Positive Tipping Points

The report also highlights ‘positive tipping points’ like the rapid decline in renewable energy costs and the growth of electric vehicle sales. However, these positive changes require proactive strategies involving innovation, market development, regulation, and public engagement.

A Call for Caution and Action

Co-author Manjana Milkoreit urges caution in over-relying on social tipping points without scalable and controllable solutions, advocating for a balanced approach that combines hope with realism.

Conclusion

As COP28 unfolds, the scientific community sends a clear message: immediate action is crucial. Earth’s proximity to irreversible environmental tipping points calls for a united, global response to combat climate change and adopt sustainable solutions. Our choices today are vital for the planet’s future and the legacy we leave for the next generations.

The post Five Catastrophic Climate Tipping Points Loom, Scientists Alert appeared first on Medika Life.

The question is whether it can be successful.

A series of events over the past few years has made a successful COP even more challenging. Amid calls for drastic climate action now, there has been political backlash against climate change activism and mitigation in the United States, and the end of the pandemic has seen industrial operations, travel, and other human activity return to pre-pandemic levels, causing emissions to go up in some areas. In addition, COP27 saw the largest presence of fossil fuel interests of any previous COP meeting. At COP28 there will be an even larger presence given that it is being held in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. Moreover, the appointment of the Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ANDOC) as the COP President has drawn the ire of some countries, along with climate and human rights activists.

The Stakes are High — IPPC’s Call for Urgent Action

Global conferences are nothing new. They make for interesting events, but often accomplish little in terms of catalyzing action. But this conference is different. The stakes could not be higher. COP28 attendees will take stock of the commitments made in Paris in 2015 to limit increase in global temperatures to 1.5 C and must forge commitments on a path forward. Decisions and accountability cannot be pushed to a future COP.

In March 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released its latest report on the progress being made towards curbing carbon emissions to achieve the Paris goals, and the findings were dire, but not hopeless. In short, the UN noted, the IPCC report concluded that unless the global community acted very quickly to make significant reductions, the chance to keep emissions below 1.5C increase were in serious jeopardy.

The report highlighted the damage that is already being done and that will continue “hitting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems especially hard.” Aditi Mukherji, one of the report’s authors, noted that “almost half the world’s population lives in regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change.” She went on to note that “in the last decade, deaths, droughts, and storms were 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions.” The report noted that temperatures have already risen 1.1 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

According to the IPCC, if temperatures are to stay below 1.5 degrees increase, deep and rapid emissions reductions are needed in all sectors. The report concluded emissions must be cut by 50% by 2030.

While certainly a dire picture, the IPCC opined that there was still time to achieve these goals if action was quick and decisive. The IPCC proposed a “climate resilient development” approach and an increased focus on finance and finding ways to protect the most vulnerable. The UN called for an “Acceleration Agenda” and urged an immediate end to coal burning while achieving net-zero electricity generation by 2035 for all developed countries and by 2040 for the rest of the world.

IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee noted that “the report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action and shows that if we act now, we can still secure a livable sustainable future for all.”

But his words of caution ring particularly true for this conference, when he observed that “transformational changes are more likely to succeed where there is trust, where everyone works together to prioritize risk reductions, and where benefits and burdens are shared equitably.”

A Firestorm of Controversy

Can the attendees at COP 28 rise to meet the moment, trust each other, and work together to prioritize reductions and have the benefits and burdens shared equitably, or is COP28 doomed to failure? The controversies and skepticism of the parties leading into COP28 suggest a difficult path forward.

The decision to hold the COP28 in Dubai caused controversy for a variety of reasons, notably because of the dominance of the oil industry in the country, inequitable treatment of women, and limits on expression of political dissent. A new furor erupted in June when the Sultan Al Jaber’s appointment was announced.

Environmental activists and others were outraged and called the appointment a clear conflict of interest. The LA Times editorial page wrote: “Putting an oil executive in charge is not only a bad look, but it also stands to undermine important and urgent negotiations and further erode public confidence in summits that have been criticized as little more than high-level venues for greenwashing.”

Climate activists also roundly condemned the appointment. Al Jaber’s appointment “poses an outrageous conflict of interest” and takes the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at the UN talks “to another dangerous and unprecedented level,” said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International. Over 130 members of Congress and the European Parliament called for the removal of Sultan Al Jaber. There has also been significant concern about the limitations on protesting in the country. According to the Financial Times, COP28 organizers told speakers not to protest or criticize corporations, Islam, the UAE government or individuals.

Some leaders rallied to Al Jaber’s defense including US Climate Czar John Kerry who called the Sultan a “terrific choice” because his company knows it needs to transition.” EU Climate chief Frans Timmermans defended the UAE’s decision, asking people to “look at his impressive track record.”

Despite all the controversy, most countries and even most environmental organizations are still attending. Cherelle Blazer, senior advisor with Sierra Club’s climate group said it was “vitally important” that the members of civil society groups attend despite its being held “in a place that is hostile to protesting.”

In a rare interview the Guardian, the Sultan addressed concerns saying: “I decided I want to go and engage with everybody. I want everyone to be heard, and I want everyone to have face time with me. So, I travelled the world, and I even met with those who attack me publicly. I made it a point to go and see them.”

In further response to criticisms about hostility to protesting and concerns over inclusion and equality, on August 1, the UAE and the UN Climate group issued a joint statement trying to allay some fears on inclusiveness and the ability to protest:

“[W]e want to express our commitment to making COP28 and inclusive and safe space for all participants… We will work together to make CO28 the most inclusive UN Climate Change Conference to date.”

They sent a letter to all parties urging “increased participation and meaningful engagement of youth, women, and local communities, and Indigenous People … in climate decision making, policy and action.”

It went on to say, “In line with the UNFCCC guidelines and adherence to international human rights norms and principles, there will be space available for climate activists to assemble peacefully and make their voices heard.”

Only time will tell.

What is on the Agenda?

Sultan Al Jaber issued a strong call to action to the parties on the need to take strong and vigorous action:

• We must unite and seize the moment of the Global Stocktake to put the world on the right track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• We need tangible progress, this year, on reform that will unlock far more concessional finance, mitigate risk, and attract more private capital.
• We must be laser focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions, while phasing up viable, affordable zero carbon alternatives.

The Global Stocktake will be the first COP to undertake a process designed to examine the degree to which countries have been successful in taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a comprehensive way. The data gathering has been ongoing over the past year, but in Dubai the parties will evaluate the results. In other words, it will in theory provide a mechanism to hold countries accountable for their actions or inaction.

In conjunction with the call to action, the Presidency also established the agenda and themes for each day. The themes include:

· Health/Relief, Recovery and Peace — Focusing on “investments that protect lives and support community resilience and stability.”

· Finance/Trade/Gender Equality/Accountability — Finance and trade mechanisms will require transformational change to achieve the climate goals. The focus will be on scale, access, and affordability. Programs will address mechanisms to ensure accountability so that help turn promises into results. Also discussed will be gender-responsive policy-making and better access to finance in the pursuit of true advancement of gender equality.

· Energy, Industry and Just Transition — A focus on the various strategies and mechanisms to obtain massive decarbonization and just transition while accelerating economic opportunity and job growth, while also addressing universal energy access and the needs of workers across the energy sector transition.

· Multilevel Action, Urbanization & Built Environment/Transport — A key focus will be on government action at all levels — not just national governments. Mayors, governors, and others will be featured, with a particular focus on challenges in building resiliency in urban areas related to the built environment and transportation.

· Youth, Children, Education, and Skills — Younger generations will be most affected by climate impacts and engagement, inclusion in policy decision making, and adapting education to develop skillsets aligned with climate action among those groups is critical.

· Nature, Land Use & Oceans — Critical to Paris Climate goals are the sustainability of nature, land use, and oceans. Delivering climate and nature co-benefits through a range of financing mechanisms will be discussed. Attention will be given also to managing carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots. There will also be a focus on increasing private equity investment to nature-positive accountability frameworks.

· Food, Agriculture & Water — Feeding the planet is critical and food supply is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Moreover, the food and agriculture industry are significant contributors to man-made climate emissions as well as water resources. This will focus on innovation and investment, regenerative agriculture, and related financing mechanisms. Freshwater restoration, conservation and infrastructure discussions will also be an area of focus.

Woven into all days will be four key topics: Technology & Innovation, Inclusion, Frontline Communities, and Finance. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, swirling around all this activity will be the formal negotiations by the government leaders over a new agreement.

Can COP28 Succeed?

Even in the best of circumstances, the ability to reach consensus across the global community on any issue of significance is daunting. COP28 will face tremendous headwinds given the lack of significant progress since 2015, the sheer complexity of the issues, the vast difference between countries in terms of development, the lack of trust among parties and stakeholders, and the controversy over the host country and the leadership of COP. The stakes are high for our planet and everyone on it. If the parties recognize what is truly at stake and the magnitude of the challenges, and if they can find a way to trust and put personal agendas aside, it can be successful.

It is a tall order, but our future depends on it. The world will be watching; and hoping.

The post Climate at a Crossroads appeared first on Medika Life.

*****

Representatives from countries and companies will gather to address the global climate crisis for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). A platform for collaboration, COP28 will weigh strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change and achieve sustainability goals.

Sometimes, policy forums are just conversations without commitment, but COP28 is a critically important opportunity for action; policymakers, scientists, environmentalists, and global citizens must use the mega gathering to set net zero-related targets and implement policies to safeguard the planet’s future.

However, controversy over COP28’s meeting location may appear to steal focus from the meeting’s critical importance. Some applaud the decision to make Dubai the host city; others express deep reservations about the location.

That’s not the only objection. Dubai’s mixed human rights record has drawn additional criticism, raising deeper questions about the country’s commitment to the core elements of ESG – environment, social impact and governance.  Activists and environmental organizations argue that COP events should be held in locations that are positive role models, both socially and on behalf of climate action. Dubai is…problematic.

Dubai proponents say its choice provides an opportunity for dialogue and engagement with a region that must shift quickly toward change from fossil fuels to alternative economic foundations and clean energy. That community believes hosting COP28 in Dubai fosters discussion that could catalyze action and encourage cooperation in addressing climate issues.

This controversy highlights the complex intersection of climate politics, environmental concerns, and geopolitical considerations.  This angst *should* spark a global conversation about the role and responsibility of ALL cities and countries in shaping the future of our planet.

There is also serious concern from many environmental activists on the appointment of Sultan al-Jaber, the UAE minister for industry and technology, as COP28 president-designate, with significant ties to the country’s oil-producing sector.  At the same time, the UAE was the first Mideastern nation to ratify the Paris Climate Accords and committed to reaching net-zero emissions by the middle of the century. Their participation and potential to be a regional role model may be critical to our collective survival.

But that’s not all.  Dubai’s mixed human rights record has drawn criticism, raising questions about the country’s commitment to the core elements of ESG – environment, social and governance.  Activists and environmental organizations argue that COP events should be held in locations noted for positive climate change and net zero progress.  

Developed and Emerging Nations – Pointing Fingers

That discussion practically begs the question of every critic, “is it fair to point a finger at the United Arab Emirates without first looking in the mirror?” Those of us here in the US can’t forget that we don’t stand on any particular moral high ground.

We are one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels, extracting significant amounts of oil, natural gas and coal. While the United Arab Emirates is also a notable producer, it has a much smaller fossil fuel output. In the area of social justice, can we in the US tout an unparalleled record of social justice or racial and health equity? We are moving backwards on several human rights issues, including equitable access to health care and a woman’s right to choose. Both the UAE and US must address social injustice within their borders and make no excuses as they right their glaring wrongs.

Climate warming and the rapid pace of disasters don’t fall solely at the doorstep of Dubai.  We all own it and must engage.

There is more to the choice of Dubai than one-dimensional news stories and facile commentary focused on controversy to drive ratings and clicks would indicate. So why hold such a critical meeting in a location that opens the door to countless questions and concerns? Why not block out hotels in a country and city that exemplify virtue? 

Perhaps this is where United Nations organizers chose to reorient their focus – to look at commitment to change in achieving global net zero goals from this very region.

ESG materiality metrics – when companies or countries commit to the analysis – rarely point to stellar performance. They show strengths and weaknesses – they are rooted in a readiness to be part of the solution and own problems.  Dubai has what to improve.  So do other countries.

Climate Change Urgency is Global

Organizers may also want to remind us that climate change is not just local; it’s global and requires all of us to act. To succeed in mitigating harm to the planet, we need a collaborative effort that achieves critical mass.  We need the Middle East to engage and commit, the same as other regions. There is no alternative.

In hosting COP28 in a city like Dubai, the UN is raising awareness about what needs to be done in the Middle East to help fight climate change. This location and the conversation it engenders provide an opportunity to engage with powerful regional economic forces – businesses, governments and NGOs – that must join the dialogue and collaborate on climate-related issues. It must create a safe space for these countries whose single-focused oil economies must make dramatic changes faster.

This global challenge requires global solutions, and COP28 represents a crucial opportunity for nations to come together, strengthen commitments, and take decisive action toward a sustainable and resilient future for all. The choice of meeting location may have created controversy, but it’s a controversy that we need. People will debate and question the wisdom of UN leaders to agree to have Dubai host, but if that discussion results in the realization that a collaborative, global climate solution cannot be reached without the participation of all countries, than the choice of Dubai will have been worth it.

The post COP28 and Dubai – Perfect Together or a Looming Disaster? appeared first on Medika Life.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common chemical in paint removers, gun cleaners, correction fluid, aerosol cleaning products, and dry cleaning.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. A loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain causes the condition, which leads to a lack of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for coordinating movement.

Common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include the following:

• Tremors in the arms, hands, legs, or head
• Stiff muscles with contractions for a long time
• Slow movements
• Balance and coordination challenges, sometimes resulting in falls
• Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls

Other symptoms may include:

• Emotional changes such as depression
• Swallowing, speaking, or chewing challenges
• Constipation or urinary problems
• Skin problems

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease often develop a so-called Parkinsonian gait. Here, the patient tends to lean forward, taking small and quick steps. There may be reduced arm swinging, too. Many need help initiating (or continuing) movement.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but tools are available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Such interventions may include medications (for example, dopamine agonists or levodopa, and non-medication interventions, including physical therapy, exercise, and speech therapy.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

The basal ganglia is a brain region that regulates movement. The most prominent Parkinson’s disease symptoms occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become impaired or die.

These nerve cells (neurons) normally produce an important brain chemical — dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes movement problems associated with the disease.

Second, patients with Parkinson’s disease also lose nerve endings that make norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter is a primary chemical messenger of the sympathetic system, controlling functions such as blood pressure and heart rate.

This neurotransmitter loss may contribute to some of the non-movement Parkinson’s features, including irregular blood pressure, fatigue, diminished food movement through the gut, and a sudden blood pressure drop upon sitting or lying.

Third, those with Parkinson’s disease have many brain cells with Lewy bodies and unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Researchers are working to understand better the relationship between alpha-synuclein and genetic variants impacting Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.

Researchers believe Parkinson’s disease is the product of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. There are several risk-increasing genes, with mutations causing the brain’s hallmark loss of dopamine-producing cells. The Mayo Clinic reminds us that such mutations are uncommon (except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson’s disease).

Environmental factors such as exposure to toxins (including pesticides) and head injuries are associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Aging is another risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. The disease is more common in people over the age of 60. Finally, men are more likely than women to develop the condition.

Parkinson’s disease is probably secondary to a complex interplay between genetics, aging, and environmental exposures.

A common chemical and Parkinson’s disease risk

The number of individuals with Parkinson’s disease has doubled over the last three decades. It may double again (from 6.9 million in 2015 to 14.2 million) by 2040.

The causes of Parksin’s disease are entirely clear. As discussed above, certain genetic mutations can increase risk, as can head trauma. However, these risk factors don’t explain the vast majority of cases. There are some less visible factors.

Could a common chemical used in paint removers, gun cleaners, dry cleaning, aerosol cleaning products, decaffeinating coffee, and correction fluid be a key to understanding the recent dramatic increase in Parkinson’s disease?

An international group of researchers recently reported the disturbing results of its review of previous research:

Trichloroethylene is associated with as much as a 500 percent increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.

What is TCE?

It is invisible, a highly volatile liquid, and seemingly everywhere. It is invisible, a highly volatile liquid, and seemingly everywhere. First synthesized in a lab in 1864, the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was first used for commercial production in 1920. TCE has commercial, industrial, military, and medical applications.

Among its uses are:

• Producing refrigerants
• Cleaning electronics
• Degreasing engine parts
• Anesthetic and analgesic (limited use)
• Gun cleaners
• Correction fluid
• Dry cleaning. A similar chemical (perchloroethylene) is currently more widely used. The current researchers pointedly observe that, in anaerobic conditions, perchloroethylene often transforms into TCE.”

The researchers remind us that we don’t have to have occupational exposure to come into contact with TCE. Exposure can occur through the air (indoor or outdoor) or groundwater. The substance evaporates from the underlying solid and groundwater and often enters our workplaces, homes, and schools undetected.

Animal studies indicate the potential peril, with TCE exposure causing selective loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells. Studies dating back to 1960 show a TCE: Parkinson’s disease association.

Unfortunately, the chemical was ubiquitous in the 1970s; 10 million Americans worked with chemical or organic solvents daily. If you want to see an exhaustive list of the occupations and industries in which TCE exposure still occurs, please go here:

Trichloroethylene: An Invisible Cause of Parkinson’s Disease?

The etiologies of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain unclear. Some, such as certain genetic mutations and head trauma, are…

content.iospress.com

TCE problem scope

I decided to write this piece after seeing this figure from the research paper:

“TCE contaminates up to one-third of US drinking water, and has polluted groundwater in over 20 countries on five continents. The substance is found in half of the 1300 most toxic “Superfund” sites that are in a federal cleanup program, including 15 in California’s Silicon Valley; there TCE was used to clean electronics.”

While the United States military no longer uses TCE, several contaminated sites exist, including Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Researchers discovered TCE and PCE in drinking water at 280 times the recommended safety standards at Camp Lejeune.

The current review highlights seven cases of people who developed Parkinson’s disease after likely exposure to TCE. For example, National Basketball Association player Brian Grant developed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in 2006 at age 34.

Grant lived at Camp Lejeune as a child. He bathed in, drank, and swam in contaminated water. His father died of esophagus carcinoma, cancer that is associated with TCE. Grant created a foundation to support and inspire folks with Parkinson’s disease.

In 2014, the International Agency for Research on Cancer updated its classification of TCE to Group 1. This assignment means that there is sufficient evidence that the substance causes kidney cancer (and that there is some evidence that it leads to liver cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

My take — TCE and Parkinson’s disease

This study was eye-opening, even as these authors acknowledge that TCE’s role in Parkinson’s disease is “far from definitive.” For example, TCE exposure is often combined with toxin exposure or unmeasured genetic risk factors. No causal relationship is proven; most of us exposed to TCE never get Parkinson’s disease.

Secondly, there can be recall bias: Those with Parkinson’s disease may be more likely to recall their exposure to the toxin.

Of course, we need more research and cleanup of contaminated sites. I hope to have contributed to spreading the word about the potential harms of TCE exposure. Still, given the known connection with some cancer types, I hope to stay clear of trichloroethylene.

The post Parkinson’s: What’s Behind the Fastest-Growing Brain Disease? appeared first on Medika Life.

The IPCC Report was characterized as the final warning before 1.5C of warming is locked in, from which point effects on the climate become irreversible.   We are currently at a 1.1 C increase, and the IPCC concluded that GHG increases must stop by 2025 to have any chance to stay below the 1.5 C target and that dramatic action is needed.   To keep within the 2.7 F  (1.5 C) increase, emissions need to be reduced by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019 and at least 60% by 2035.  

Everyone Should be Part of the Solution

The Secretary-General called on CEOs of all oil and gas companies to be part of the solution and present plans detailing actual emission cuts for 2025 and 2030 and efforts to change business models to phase out fossil fuels and scale up renewable energy.  Key measures to achieve the reductions include:

The report also found that losses and damage disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable populations, creating a tipping point toward more poverty.

Adaptation options that are feasible and effective today will become constrained and less effective with increased global warming.   The report also notes that while measures are being taken to address adaptation, the financial resources committed to the effort fall far short of what is needed. Investments in innovations will be vital to reaching ambitious goals. Companies with innovative climate solutions can differentiate themselves in the market.

The post UN Panel Warns of the Dire Consequences of Climate Change appeared first on Medika Life.

Trepidation. That one word describes the uncertain economic climate that grips corporate and investment decision-makers. If we are to believe headlines, wallets have tightened, and investment in digital health and health tech, as a result, has taken a nose dive. That go-to conclusion overly simplifies complex investment strategies in a sector that has shown great resilience year-after-after.

Two-Year Pandemic Funding Spree Fizzles Out

After an extraordinary two-year pandemic funding spree, there are apparent shifts in how investors make economic decisions. In this year of geopolitical turmoil and uncertain financial performance, digital health remains integral to the future of the health economy and in addressing public health pressure points. However, the development stages in which funds are directed, therapeutic categories selected, provider systems that demand transformation, and the regions where innovators establish headquarters are now key investment decision factors.

COVID served as an urgent sector testing ground. But the obsession with COVID must not overshadow the possibilities for continued growth in new areas of medicine and sustainability. As life-saving efforts around patient care and drug development ground to an almost complete halt, technologies that enhanced telemedicine and remote patient monitoring became the “no going back” path to pursue medical practice and innovation. This is just the beginning of the surge in how these technologies will transform human and planetary health.

Also, the human body – our well-being and survival- is biological and ecological.  We are beginning to see first-hand the harsh realities of climate change and these stormy reminders that the planet doesn’t need people; people need the planet. Follow shared urgencies, and you find value investors at the earlier stages seeking equity and influence.  Corporate environment, social and governance (ESG) priorities are becoming new due diligence points for investors as they access technologies and services of significant importance to governments and industries that have pledged commitment to net zero policies.

Tel Aviv Joins the Medika EcoHealth and Health Travelogue

While the digital health sector has grown significantly during the past decade, it must be mobilized to address unmet needs. From $2 billion invested in 2011, that figure morphed 28-fold to $56 billion in 2021. In the shadow of the COVID pandemic, unprecedented investment poured into digital health during this two-year window, accelerating the adoption of AI, AR, remote patient monitoring, telehealth, digital therapeutics, wearables, VR and more. These are all technologies Israeli entrepreneurs have called upon to improve care, track patient needs and reduce costs.

Tel Aviv, Israel – the first spot on our ecohealth and health tech travelogue – is taking the lead globally by combining the talents of biologists and engineers. Among the key people to watch in this market is Levi Shapiro, founder of mHealth Israel – a not-for-profit community of almost 20,000 innovators – from start-ups to established players.  Shapiro is more than the curator for this community. He is Israel’s unofficial ambassador for innovative ideas.

Collaboration is the SynBio Power Ingredient

Among the hottest new areas for investment – just coming onto our radar screen – is synthetic biology or SynBio.  Experts such as Avital Adler, Ph.D., Yuval Dorfan, Lior Nissim, Gita Reinitz, and Tamir Tuller are among the leaders in this growing collaborative movement to unlock solutions to the mega planetary challenges. Pearl Cohen, a leading Tel Aviv-based global law firm representing emerging innovation companies, is hosting SynBio 2023.

While too many headlines cite a significant drop in digital health private equity and venture capital investment, the magnetic pull to “follow the money” is misleading.  More “value” is being infused into the digital health category – monies are entering at earlier stages and targeting specific spots on the global innovation map.  Early in translates into more equity and influence. Follow the money and where the money is headed are linked.

If dollars and Euros are the only indicators of enthusiasm and commitment, it is easy to see why hand-wringing news stories prevail. Look at all the metrics that determine a vibrant sector. Look at the regions where funds are being directed and at what stages to resolve what broad–global – challenges. The cities in the Medika Life “Hot Spot Series” will explore what’s happening and some of the companies that are working to sustain human and planetary health.

Israel is an excellent example of that positive narrative.  From 2021 – the acknowledged boom year of capital infusion into the category – to the supposed global drop in investment – Israeli did not see a noticeable decline in private equity investment.  It continues to be a value-driven market and a testing ground for innovation.  We’re watching several Israeli-headquartered private equity funds, including aMoon, Our Crowd, Start-Up Nation, Welltech Ventures, and others, to see where they will place their bets – our future – in the coming months. They are active and strong.

“Israel is a paradigm-challenging innovation culture. Disrupting a conservative industry such as healthcare requires this kind of mentality of not accepting the way things have been done forever,” reflects Eran Eshed, co-founder and CEO of Fairtility, a cutting-edge company using AI, clinical, high-tech, software development, and business leadership experience to rapidly introduce new technologies and applications to the IVF process.

Among the hot Israeli companies on our Medika Life EcoHealth and Health Tech Hot Spot, radar screen are these six covering decentralized clinical trials, environment and sustainability and patient adherence.  During the week of February 6^th, we will be onsite and meeting with these and other company leaders – hearing about their ideas and plans to improve people’s and the planet’s health and sustainability. 

Six Israeli Health Tech Companies Worth Watching

Next week, we head to Tel Aviv, Israel, and look forward to meeting companies on the leading edge of health innovation.  Here are six companies on our radar screen – we’re planning on meeting more and updating this list.

Belong.Life is a leading global tech provider of high-engagement social and professional care management platforms and patient communities, with more than one million users providing and receiving emotional support, advice, and information from peers and health professionals. Plus, as more patients with serious health concerns seek access to clinical trial options, Belong offers a clinical trial matching service that analyzes all available clinical trials around the globe in real-time, matching patients to trials relevant to their diagnosis and location. The Belong Beating Cancer Together app is used by almost 1 in 10 U.S. cancer patients, and 1 in 5 US-based multiple sclerosis patients are using BelongMS.

BloomX is addressing the challenge of crop pollination and sustainability. Farmers and crop growers rely on insects and honeybees for pollination, which plays an integral role in crop and fruit development and higher crop yields. Due to parasites and habitat loss, the honeybee population is decreasing, leading to a crisis that impacts crop production and food supply. BloomX is an early-stage ag-tech startup that has developed bio-mimicking pollination technology. This AI-based tech solves significant challenges by improving crop productivity and quality over the pollination process and supporting sustainability goals.

Enzymit may have cracked the price and time code for enzyme development and functionality.  Inventing new enzymes for bioproduction, the company is poised to replace outdated, pollution-producing chemical manufacturing with validated green production methods efficiently and cost-effectively. The Enzymit proprietary technology platform uses deep-learning algorithms and high-throughput testing methods to rapidly screen billions of sequence changes for every single experiment. The company can uncover and develop novel proteins for varied applications, such as fine chemical manufacturing, food and beverages, health and nutrition, biodefense and energy.

Sweetch is tackling chronic conditions that consume the health system and providers using the transformational power of AI, behavioral science, and its “Just-in-Time-Adaptive-Intervention” (JITAI) technology. Medication non-compliance results in more than 100,000 preventable deaths and $100 billion in preventable medical costs annually. The company has developed a precision engagement solution for chronic conditions through hyper-personalized communication with individual patients powered by. The Sweetch solution is cost-effective, sustainable and scalable, offering a ready-made solution for healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers globally.

UBQ Materials is transforming unrecyclable and organic waste into bio-based thermoplastic using advanced conversion technology. The company diverts unsorted household waste from landfills and incineration, protecting the natural environment and people’s health. Water, soil, and air quality suffer when waste is sent to landfills or incineration. It is well known that there is increased respiratory risk for people residing near incineration plants. Also, there is significant research on microplastics in humans resulting from plastic pollutants in the water supply. UBQ Materials is among the pioneers engaging the health and planet sustainability challenge by focusing on renewable material solutions.

X-trodes has developed the world’s first multimodality dry wearable technology for advanced electrophysiological monitoring and analytics so that people with health concerns can be diagnosed in their home setting. X-trodes technology is a smart skin conforming to inaccessible areas of the body and provides a user-friendly solution to generate data. This new approach monitors EEG (brain activity), EOG (eye movement), EMG (muscle stimulation), and ECG/EKG (cardiac monitoring).  Applications include sleep, fitness, sports, rehab and general health, and specialized monitoring targeted to specific markets.

We hope to feature other companies in this special Health Innovation Hot Spots Tel Aviv Report. We will continue to use the Galen Growth/FINN Partners “Global State of Digital Health” as our guide in highlighting innovation that can improve people’s and the planet’s well-being.

The post COVID Became a MedTech Proving Ground Pointing to Planetary Health Priorities appeared first on Medika Life.

The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization that aims to improve our environment-related health. The group recently analyzed 39,000 US Department of Agriculture tests of 47 fruits and vegetables.

The bad news? Nearly 70 percent of conventional produce contains pesticide residues. Particularly striking that virtually all apples, cherries, nectarines, and peaches contained at least one pesticide.

Rather than focus on the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, today, we turn to the so-called Clean 15 produce list. First, a disclosure: The Environmental Working Group receives funding from several prominent organic marketers.

Fruits and vegetables — the clean 15

Nearly 70 percent of the Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples contained no pesticide residues. Can you guess the cleanest? If you offered avocados and sweet corn, you are spot on; fewer than two percent of the samples had pesticides.

I recently wrote about some of the upsides of avocado consumption:

Are Avocados A Weapon to Dodge a Heart Attack?AVOCADOS APPEAR TO BE ONE MORE TOOL to reduce your heart attack risk. A new study suggests that this fruit — known for…medium.com Could Phytochemicals in Avocados Protect Against Cancer?I love indescribable things, like the taste of an avocado or the smell of a gardenia. — Barbra Streisand.medium.com

Let’s turn to the whole list of so-called clean fruits and vegetables.

1. Avocados

2. Sweet corn

3. Pineapple

4. Onions

5. Papaya

6. Sweet peas (frozen)

7. Asparagus

8. Honeydew melon

9. Kiwi

10. Cabbage

11. Mushrooms

12. Cantaloupe

13. Mangoes

14. Watermelon

15. Sweet potatoes

Fruits and vegetables — Study methods

The Environmental Working Group analyzed over 44,000 samples taken by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Drug Administration.

Before testing the produce for pesticides, the researchers prepared each fruit or vegetable like regular folks might do, including rinsing produce with edible peels and peeling those with inedible peels.

Whether the fruit or vegetable is on the clean or dirty list, I always wash produce before peeling, cutting, or eating it. Why? I am not as concerned about the pesticides as getting enough produce into my diet. My eagerness to wash is that produce can be covered in bacteria, leading to food poisoning.

Did you know that produce causes nearly half of all foodborne illnesses? By contrast, meat and poultry are responsible for 22 percent of cases in the United States.Fruits and vegetables poison more Americans than beef and chickenEvery year, millions of Americans get sick from what they eat and drink. But it’s not always the foods you’d…www.vox.com

What is your approach?

The post Don’t Be Fooled — Not all Fruits and Vegetables are “Dirty.” appeared first on Medika Life.

How the electrolysis process may be able to provide future generations with clean air, energy, and clean, untainted drinking water requires a little more explanation. Before we dive into the science, let’s look at why clean drinking water (potable water) is so important to us and why access to it poses the greatest risk to our continued existence as a species.

The elixir of life

We cannot survive without water. Generally, three dry days is the average human limit, and the hotter the climate, the quicker the onset of dehydration. During an average day in a temperate climate such as the United Kingdom, a person’s body loses approximately 2.5litres of water.

This can be through the lungs as water vapor, through the skin as sweat, or through the kidneys as urine. Some water (a less significant amount, in the absence of diarrhea) is also lost through the bowels.

During vigorous exercise or in a hot environment, it is easy to lose several times this amount. Heavy exercise in high temperatures could cause the loss of over 2.5 liters of fluid per hour, which exceeds the body’s absorptive capacity.

So we must have clean drinking water which is becoming a rapidly diminishing natural resource. Consuming contaminated or dirty drinking dirty water dramatically increases your risk of contracting diarrhea, cholera, and a host of other water-borne parasites and diseases.

A catastrophe in the making

2.2 billion people (that’s 3 in 10) globally do not have access to potable water. Each year this figure rises and there are a number of factors that affect these figures.

• A lack of infrastructure in poor and developing nations
• Pollution of existing rivers, lakes, and underground freshwater reservoirs
• Climate change which can affect rainfall in hot arid regions
• Unchecked population growth, which places unsustainable demands on limited resources
• Melting mountain glaciers provide many rivers with their annual supply of water. Many of these glaciers are now shrinking or have entirely disappeared, thanks to global warming

It is therefore essential that we start looking for alternatives to produce potable water in sustainable quantities. It is THE challenge facing our growing global population and many companies are now turning their attention to potential solutions. Understandably, most focus on seawater, which accounts for around 98% of the water on our planet.

The manufacture of potable water

The obvious solution is often the only solution and producing potable water from seawater is the starting point of most companies looking to provide solutions. Take the researchers from the Korean Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT). They have created what they call a coaxial electrospun nanofiber membrane, which is essentially a filter.

We already desalinate seawater (the process of removing the salt from the seawater) on a large scale. America is no exception and its desalination plants rely on a process called membrane desalination, which works by using pressure to force water through membranes (filters).

One of the main drawbacks to this method is that membranes rapidly become too wet and ineffective, meaning they have to be replaced frequently. KICT’s new fancy-named membrane solves this issue by dramatically extending the periods between filter changes.

Rather than changing the older membranes every 50 hours as is currently the industry practice, KICT’s membrane only needs to be changed once a month. That’s a massive saving in terms of cost per liter and also increases the operational output of a plant.

There is however another process that needs to be seriously explored and at first glance, it seems counterintuitive as it doesn’t produce drinking water, not immediately anyway.

The process of electrolysis

Imagine a process that could provide us with an abundant source of clean energy (hydrogen) and as a byproduct of the manufacturing and subsequent consumption of that energy, leaves us with oxygen and potable water. Sounds like an eco-dream doesn’t it? Particularly given the dire climate warnings sounding across the globe.

The reality is this process already exists and has for years. We can, by passing an electric current through seawater, separate it into its constituent parts, namely hydrogen, and oxygen. The process is called electrolysis.

How the entire cycle fits together

Let’s start with the hydrogen and oxygen that are produced from the electrolysis process. The oxygen is a no-brainer and can be used in medical settings or simply vented into an atmosphere that is arguably in very dire need of it. The hydrogen that is produced is the element we’re really interested in.

Hydrogen is potentially a serious energy solution for the future. It is a clean, incredibly efficient, and flexible energy carrier. It is the simplest and most abundant element on earth — it consists of only one proton and one electron. Hydrogen can store and deliver usable energy, but it doesn’t typically exist by itself in nature and must be produced from compounds that contain it, like water.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not an energy source, and can deliver or store a tremendous amount of energy. Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity, or power, and heat. Today, hydrogen is most commonly used in petroleum refining and fertilizer production, while transportation and utilities are emerging markets.

Using Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water, electricity, and heat. Hydrogen and fuel cells can play an important role in our global energy strategy, with the potential for use in a broad range of applications, across virtually all sectors — transportation, commercial, industrial, residential, and portable.

Hydrogen and fuel cells can provide energy for use in diverse applications, including distributed or combined-heat-and-power; backup power; systems for storing and enabling renewable energy; portable power; auxiliary power for trucks, aircraft, rail, and ships; specialty vehicles such as forklifts; and passenger and freight vehicles including cars, trucks, and buses.

Elon, are you listening?

Due to their high efficiency and zero or near-zero emissions operation, hydrogen and fuel cells have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in many applications. Analysis has shown that hydrogen and fuel cells have the potential to achieve the following reductions in emissions:

• Light-duty highway vehicles: more than 50% to more than 90% reduction in emissions over today’s gasoline vehicles.
• Specialty vehicles: more than 35% reduction in emissions over current diesel and battery-powered lift trucks.
• Transit buses: demonstrated fuel economies of approximately 1.5 times greater than diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) buses and approximately 2 times higher than natural gas ICE buses.
• Auxiliary power units (APUs): more than 60% reduction in emissions compared to truck engine idling.
• Combined heat and power (CHP) systems: 35% to more than 50% reduction in emissions over conventional heat and power sources (with much greater reductions — more than 80% — if biogas or hydrogen from low- or zero-carbon sources is used in the fuel cell)

It’s one thing discovering the next big thing in energy solutions, quite another converting it into a commercial reality, ask any cold fusion scientists and hydrogen suffers from this problem. Currently, costs for producing hydrogen commercially via electrolysis are prohibitively high and that’s directly linked to scale. That could all be about to change.

Potable water from hydrogen fuel cells

Water is a by-product of the processes of hydrogen fuel cells. In a future hydrogen economy, harvesting water from H2 fuel cells and other devices should be considered one of the driving factors for scaling up hydrogen production.

The water quality produced by modern fuel cells is higher than typical tap waters and complies with US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations. Research has already been done on the quality of water produced by this means.

To investigate the yield of water from a hydrogen fuel cell (FC), water to energy production ratios were modeled in the study. With 85% capture of exhaust water, an FC operating to meet the daily energy consumption needs of a typical US household would produce around 16 L of water.

This is nearly the volume of internal human consumption of water, but far less than the average 410 L/capita/d of total potable water demand which accounts for all uses of water, however for the purposes of this article we are concerned only with potable water.

In terms of scale, in an American nationwide hydrogen economy, where all energy consumed comes from hydrogen, over 4.9 billion m3 of high-quality water per year would be produced as by-products of hydrogen usage. That’s a lot of water, but is it enough to provide drinking water for the US population?

The answer to that is a definitive yes. To see just how much water the US uses annually, this article provides an interesting perspective. Keep in mind the figures quoted refer to total water consumption, for agriculture, industry, and home consumption. We drink far less water, the average person consuming between 2–4 liters a day.

Where’s the catch?

There isn’t one, quite literally. Again, for this to work, scale matters. More importantly, the mindset has to be present, to change from a fossil-fuel-based economy to one that is powered by hydrogen and fuel cells, and therein lies the catch.

Hydrogen doesn’t have billions of dollars at its disposal to close down the petrochemical industry. Companies harvesting and selling fossil fuels have unlimited funds to bribe, coerce and lobby politicians to continue down a road of no return. A path that favors fossil fuels over all else.

Sadly, a glaring fact is becoming apparent as time progresses. Fossil fuels will outlive humanity. We cannot use them up before the effects of using them kill us, and the potential future awaiting us is going to be a dry and thirsty one.

By limiting the exploration and commercialization of alternate energy solutions, fossil fuel companies like Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SNP), and others are denying the world a final opportunity to salvage ourselves. They are denying solutions like hydrogen the opportunity to scale up. Solutions that could undo decades of damage.

Footnote for science buffs

I mentioned oxygen briefly. Here’s an interesting fact about electrolysis and the oxygen produced for the science buffs. What total volume (in L ) of O2​ and H2​ are produced at STP when a current of 30 A is passed through a K2​SO4​(aq) solution for 193 minutes?

On passing 3.6 Faradays of electricity through the water 3.6 moles of Hydrogen and 1.8 moles of Oxygen will be formed. So the volume of Hydrogen produced at STP is 80.64 liters. The volume of oxygen produced at STP is 40.32 liters.

That’s a lot of fresh air.

The post Is the Solution to Clean Drinking Water, Energy, and Oxygen Right Under our Noses? appeared first on Medika Life.

We’re confronted with a looming problem. The environment is in poor health. Everything the environment sustains — plants, animals, our communities, our businesses, our families, and ourselves — are now equally at risk of poor health. As we experience record heat waves, fires burning in the western U.S. for the last decade, polluted water, and a global pandemic driven in large part by environmental factors, that couldn’t be clearer.

And yet, galvanizing support for environmental and human health remains difficult. Environmental protection, politicized for the short-term gain of a few, remains a hot button in the halls of power, but it’s becoming an issue discussed at the breakfast table for most Americans as people, communities, and corporations are starting to reach consensus, supporting the environment for the sake of health and wellbeing.

There are still immense challenges, and they hinge on communications. People, communities, and businesses possess enough power to affect the change needed to address climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation, but to bring that power to bear to heal the planet, they need to work together. That means they need to be better at communicating.

Communicating With Clarity and Impact

As communicators, it’s important that we tell it like it is. That means not only being truthful, it means using plain language that everyone can understand, but also using words that have power and work to make the point.

Humanity is in a battle and the stakes are enormous. Words are the weapons that will help us win it, and we must choose them carefully. We need words with power, value and emotional impact that convey deeper meanings. Consider the words “farmer” and “factory.”

“Farmer” conjures a very American way of life. Farmers built America, and the word is imbued with value: hard work, toughness, family, simplicity, and productivity. “Farmer” is a good word that works hard. “Factory” is also a good word, but what it emotionally summons up is another story: smokestacks, pollution, crowding, inhumanity, and alienation.

When “factory” is put together with “farm,” the specter of animals jammed together in tiny pens, unable to turn around or breathe fresh air, is clearly communicated.

While nearly nine out of ten Americans (88%) have a positive opinion of farmers, and nearly as many (84%) support sustainable farming and economies, that unwavering trust doesn’t extend to all agricultural methods. Nine in ten (89%) are opposed to factory farming practices, citing public health, worker safety and animal welfare as their main concerns.

Farmers themselves hold an even more negative opinion of factory farming; 85% of them and their families support a complete ban on new factory farming facilities, nearly twice the number of the general public.

Proponents of factory farming, attempt to defuse this emotionally charged language by substituting bland phrases such as “intensive production.” These euphemisms make use of words that lack impact. Using devalued phrases is a tactic that’s been employed as long as there have been those who defend what they know is indefensible.

While these tactical choices should be clear, strategically, we face a bigger challenge. To protect the health of the planet and humanity, we need to find new voices and new ways of reaching potential allies — and this includes everyone from small, local community groups to corporations with whom we share common ground.

…And Not a Drop to Drink

Water consumption and scarcity are rising supply-chain and health-risk issues. In a June note to investors, Barclays analysts shared that water scarcity is a concern for sectors that include a wide range of industries from agriculture to food to beverages to shipping. According to the Barclays report:

“Water is one of the most important natural resources in the world, essential for humans to survive and industries to function. And yet, we face social, environmental and development stresses stemming from water shortages and increased water usage.”

So long as it flows freely from our faucets, water doesn’t capture much attention. In the developed world, we have a naïve belief that water is infinite, but climate change is tipping the dominos that lead to water scarcity. The list of Standard and Poor 500 companies at risk for shortages includes global foods powerhouse Unilever, consumer products leader Colgate Palmolive and cleaning products giant Reckitt Benckiser, and Barclay’s predicts these and many others may face a 40% to 50% EBITDA impact.

Before supplies dry up, these three consumer-products giants are investing mightily in communication to elevate voices on the common need to work for a healthier planet by tackling climate change. Reckitt Benckiser in particular has begun listening sessions with stakeholders in areas at risk to discuss climate change and what’s needed to ensure water supplies.

They’re not just talking about environmental risk; they recognize that health is fundamental to their business success and our survival.

Together, Environmental and Health Advocacy Communicators Can Have Greater Impact.

At a time when business is recognizing and acting on the need for sustainability, a window has opened that allows environmental, health and corporate PR pros to drive a broad, united effort to effect change.

That’s got to happen quickly. To ensure their futures, industries, and communities must build out their environmental communication planning and programs, taking a far broader view that should feature a synthesis of environmental health, economic sustainability, and human health and wellness.

With a remarkable career that spans public service — as a senior attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation — environmental advocacy, and advisor to corporate boards, Bob Martineau, JD, a senior partner with Finn Partners, has seen that environmental degradation is the largest threat to our health. He said:

“Climate and environmental degradation pose a greater danger (than COVID-19), but…we live in a snapchat world of 30 second messaging. It’s hard to have that same sense of urgency when the degradation and impacts are more incremental and long term. But communicating the seriousness of the issue from a public health perspective could be the great uniter… We need to find different ways to communicate with people the importance of critical public health issues and depoliticize them. We need to find better messengers — be they ministers in the pulpit, trusted sports heroes or a favorite music legend.”

Whatever our background, we are natural allies. We face a common danger: a planet that soon won’t support our health, whether it’s human or economic. We must now see that our fates have always been inextricably intertwined, and that forces us to work together.

Environmental, health, and corporate communicators must learn from each other, share best practices and adapt to meet our imperative, shared need to communicate effectively with the public with clarity and impact for the sake of our health.

The post The Power of Words appeared first on Medika Life.