Experts: U.S. withdraws from the Word Health Organization (WHO) and Paris climate agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday his country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.
These experts from Ï㽶ÊÓƵ are available to share their insights:
Paris Accord
Amy Janzwood, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, has expertise in the comparative politics of energy and the environment, including the political economy of energy transitions, the contested politics of fossil fuel production and the pathways that move us towards more just and sustainable energy systems.
amy.janzwood [at] mcgill.ca (English)
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World Health Organization
Madhukar Pai, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Director of McGill Global Health Programs, Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology & Global Health and Director of the McGill International TB Centre.
“While I am not surprised, I am deeply saddened by this U.S. announcement. We are dealing with many crises (e.g. climate crisis, pandemics) which have an impact on many nations and require trans-national collaboration and co-operation. WHO is the only UN agency that has the mandate and authority to convene nations and align them on common, shared goals. To this extent, all nations must support WHO and strengthen its capacity.
“I hope the U.S. administration will reconsider their decision to withdraw from WHO. At the same time, I hope other G-7 and G-20 countries will step up and fill the massive funding and leadership gap that the U.S. will leave. This is a chance for Canada to step up, show our solidarity, increase our funding to WHO, and fill a vital need. This can be Canada’s big contribution to improving global health and security.â€
madhukar.pai [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Amelie Quesnel-Vallée, Professor, Department of Sociology, Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities; Chair, Department of Equity, Ethics and Policy, Director, McGill Observatory on Health and Social Services Reforms. Has expertise in the contribution of policies to social inequalities in health.
amelie.quesnelvallee [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)