The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IABP) had declared a climate emergency in recognition of Earth Day today (April 22, 2021).
The IAPB made the decision to declare an emergency at a board meeting on Monday following work from its Climate Action Working Group, and has released a call to action document describing environmentally sustainable practices for the optical sector.
Peter Holland, IAPB’s chief executive officer, said: ‘Globally we are seeing the devastating impacts of climate changes on our environment and health. There are more intense extreme weather events, rising temperatures and sea levels, spread of disease, devastation of habitats and increase in air pollution.
‘Eye health is being affected through increase in trachoma infections, vitamin A deficiencies, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, allergic and dry eye diseases.
‘Climate events will disrupt eye health service delivery by damaging medical facilities and affecting critical supplies.’
The IAPB’s call to action document is available here: iapb.org/learn/work-groups/climate-action/