Webinar: the COP26 Health Programme - Opportunities for Health Leadership on the Road to COP26
The UN’s 26th climate change conference in November 2021, COP26, represents a huge opportunity to drive forward global ambition on protecting health by reducing emissions, strengthening resilience and adapting to climate change.
As part of the COP26 Health Programme, the COP26 Presidency is working alongside WHO, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and the UNFCCC Climate Champions to engage countries and stakeholders on climate and health.
A series of webinars on September 29 will provide an overview of the COP26 Health Programme and its various initiatives, including on Climate Resilient Health Systems and Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems and Health Professional Advocacy. Panel discussions and a Q&A session will allow participants to share experiences, ask questions, and explore ways to effectively increase health leadership on climate action.
You can watch the webinar recordings here: morning session (passcode: 17APQ^X! ), afternoon session (passcode: D2EP=Vw$).
About the Initiatives
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, coordinated by WHO, calls on and supports governments to strengthen the resilience of their health systems against climate impacts.
The Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems Initiative aims to mobilize health care systems and institutions around the world to play a leadership role in reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. The initiative is being coordinated by COP26 Presidency, UNFCC High Level Climate Champions Team, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and WHO.
For more information on the initiative on Climate Resilient Health Systems, please contact the WHO climate change team at villalobose@who.int. For more information on the initiative on Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems please contact COP26 Health Team at COP26Health@fcdo.gov.uk.
As part of the COP26 Health Programme, initiatives have also been developed on Adaptation Research for Health, the inclusion of health priorities in Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as raising the voice of health professionals as advocates for stronger ambition on climate change.
Programme
The webinar on the COP26 Health Programme will take place on September 29th. The agenda can be seen here. Sessions will have the following structure:
Welcome remarks by Dr Naoko Yamamoto, WHO Assistant Director General for Healthier Populations, and by the UK Chief Medical Officer.
Overview of COP26 health programme by Dave McConalogue, Health Adviser, Health Services Team, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head, Climate Change and Health Unit, WHO.
COP26 Health Initiative on health professional advocacy for stronger ambition on climate change by Jeni Miller, Executive Director, Global Climate and Health Alliance.
COP26 Health Initiative on climate resilient health systems by Elena Villalobos Prats, Technical Officer, Climate Change and Health, WHO.
COP26 Health Initiative on low carbon-emission health systems by Sonia Roschnik, International Climate Policy Director, Healthcare Without Harm (HCWH).
Q&A session moderated by Maria Neira, Director, Environment, Climate Change and Health Department, WHO.
Panel discussion; ways to effectively increase health leadership on climate action, experiences from champion countries and health professionals. By representatives from various countries and organisations.
Closing remarks and next steps by Dave McConalogue, Health Adviser, Health Services Team, FCDO.
Read More
Initiative on Building Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Systems [PDF]
Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems Initiative
WHO Resources: National adaptation strategies and plans
WHO's Country Support on Climate Change and Health
WHO's work on climate change andHealth