Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

126 of the population by creating a vicious cycle of inequities, poverty and poor health. This reinforces the need for clear policies to reduce the climate impacts on natural and human systems by decreasing social inequalities. In this sense, climate change is not only a phenomenon analyzed from a physical point of view but also from a social, political, economic and cultural perspective (Malone, 2009). Furthermore, the richest 10% of the population generates 52% of the total emissions between 1990 and 2015 (OXFAM, 2022). However, the consequences of climate change are observed in all regions and particularly affect those that have contributed least to global GHG emissions. In this regard, climate change is primarily an ethical problem and a matter of global justice which exposes structural and power inequalities that primarily affect vulnerable countries and marginalized groups in society (women, children and indigenous communities) (Markandya, 2011). These inequalities manifest themselves across a wide range of dimensions, from the consequences of disaster risk exposure (80 times higher in countries with emerging markets) (Malone, 2009) to the way in which rich countries dictate terms in international climate change negotiations (Okereke, 2010). The scientific evidence regarding the occurrence of anthropogenic climate change and the magnitude of its consequences is robust; however, political action has been criticized for its slowness. The next section discusses areas of action on climate change at international, regional and national level. Climate action: Characterized by slowness and missed opportunities An article published by the New York Times in 2018 argued that major world powers wasted an opportunity between 1979 to 1989 to create a global framework for reducing carbon emissions. The statement mentioned that that decade was an opportune time for the development and implementation of climate change policies. This was because of the widespread agreement among powerful nations and scientific consensus reached on the first climate change conference held in Geneva in 1979. Despite the favorable policy climate in the 1980s, the inability to formulate any concrete global action during that time prevailed and led to the rapid progression of climate change. This missed opportunity may have worsened the direct impacts of climate change and, more importantly, indirect impacts like the mental health repercussions in children. Actions on climate change at global level require significant political commitment because the goal of reducing CO 2 emissions involves changes in economic, social and industrial systems, in the present and in the future. Additionally, responsibility for emissions must be differentiated among