The Climate Resilient Health Systems Initiative under the Adaptation Action Coalition will be launched on May 6th, 9am CEST, as part of the 12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD XII).
The Adaptation Action Coalition was founded in January 2021 with the aim to build momentum and accelerate action to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. At the 12th Petersburg Climate Dialogue (PCD XII) on May 6th and 7th, the Adaptation Action Coalition will step up with a call for additional commitments to build health systems that are climate resilient and environmentally sustainable.
Watch the recording of this Petersberg Climate Dialogue satellite event here.
About the Initiative
Climate change increasingly places stress and shocks on the capacity of health systems to prevent, adapt and respond to increased health risks and can also be impacted by shocks posed by increased weather events. In order to protect the health of populations from the effects of climate change and avoid widening health inequities, countries must build climate resilient health systems.
The Climate Resilient Health Systems Initiative will support the goals of the Adaptation Action Coalition by addressing the health impacts of climate change while strengthening health resilience. The initiative has a clear vision: to ensure that by 2030 all health systems worldwide have strengthened resilience against climate impacts.
Governments can join the initiative by committing to conduct climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments (V&As); develop a health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP); or by allocating, or applying for, climate finance for health action. In addition to commitments under the AAC, governments are encouraged to develop an action plan or roadmap for achieving a sustainable low carbon health system that minimizes climate impacts and increases resilience.
For more information on the Initiative on Climate Resilient Health Systems, please contact the WHO climate change team at villalobose@who.int.
Programme
The session Adaptation Action Coalition for Health: Building climate resilient health systems will take place on May 6th from 9am - 11am CEST. It will cover best practices on building climate resilient health systems, and discuss strategies and actions needed to drive higher ambition in this area. The session will see the launch of the Adaptation Action Coalition’s Initiative on building climate resilient health systems and will conclude with a call to action for countries to protect their population through more resilient health systems.
With the participation of Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK COP26 Champion on Adaptation and Resilience; Vijay Rangarajan, Director General Americas and Overseas Territories, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, FCDO; Lord Bethell of Romford, Minister for Innovation, UK Department of Health and Social Care, DHSC; Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete, Minister of Health Fiji; Ms Teresa Ribera, Vice -President and Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Spain; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General WHO; Dr Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate Change, Health, WHO; and others.
Watch the recording of the event
About the Petersberg Climate Dialogues
The Petersberg Climate Dialogue series was launched in 2010, after the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, and has been hosted annually by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The Dialogues facilitate open discussions in small groups on key issues in international climate policy.
About the Adaptation Action Coalition
The Adaptation Action Coalition, formed in January 2021, builds on the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit (UNCAS) ‘ Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience’. Founded in partnership with the UK, Egypt, Bangladesh, Malawi, the Netherlands, Saint Lucia, the Coalition aims to build momentum and accelerate action to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
About WHO
WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. As the UN’s Specialized Health Agency, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices. WHO’s programme on climate change and health was established over 25 years ago and has three key focus areas, namely, protecting health from the full range of raising climate risks, strengthening the climate resilience and environmental sustainability of health systems and facilities, and help reduce carbon emissions while promoting health (e.g. through reduced air pollution).
Read More
Initiative on Building Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Systems [PDF]
WHO Resources: National adaptation strategies and plans
WHO's Country Support on Climate Change and Health