In 2022, global deforestation surged, claiming 6.6 million hectares, surpassing the needed pace to curb it by 21%. This alarming trend, despite COP28 pledges, results in the loss of over 11 soccer fields of tropical forest per minute. As an infectious diseases physician, I emphasize microbe-related risks, citing links to Ebola and Lyme disease. Deforestation disrupts carbon sinks, contributing to 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions, impacting mental health. Targeted solutions include subsidizing healthcare and supporting sustainable businesses. Yet, the challenge is translating promises into tangible change, emphasizing the crucial need for action over rhetoric to save our forests.
#DeforestationAlert #COP28Pledges #MicrobeRisks #ClimateCrisis #GlobalHealth #CarbonEmissions #EnvironmentalImpact #ForestConservation #MentalHealth #SustainableSolutions #OneHealth #BiodiversityLoss #ActForForests #LeadershipChallenge #ClimateActionNow
