- Excellency Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary General of Climate Vulnerable Forum
- Dr Saia, WHO Regional Director, Western Pacific Region
- Excellencies, Distinguished guests
- Partners, Colleagues and Friends
A very good afternoon to you all and thank you all for joining us here today.
South-East Asia is rapidly urbanizing.
By 2030, we are projected to have 105 cities with more than a 1 million residents each. That is a striking increase of 36 more than today. 10 of these cities are set to become megacities, home to more than 10 million people each.
In the midst of this rapid growth lie opportunities.
We have the opportunity to strategically implement healthy city initiatives, which - when supported by sensible urban governance - can significantly boost the health and well-being of communities.
That is at least 200 million people living in cities whose lives we can profoundly impact and improve.
Now, we all know that both South-East Asia and the Western Pacific are severely vulnerable to climate change. Unfortunately, as we know, the impact of this will hit marginalized communities in both urban and rural areas the hardest.
Our health systems and communities must be better equipped to tackle this growing challenge. We have to act now – before it’s too late.
And so, we have the convergence of two major trends – urbanization, and climate change. It is at the intersection of these, that we need to think smarty and act quickly.
We need to focus on some key priorities:
First, An Integrated approach towards Urban Resilience: Climate resilience requires integration of economic, social, and environmental considerations. Cities must create solutions that support local communities, prioritize sustainable infrastructure, and reduce overall vulnerability.
Second, Focus on Localized Climate Adaptation: Each city and region has unique vulnerabilities. Tailored adaptation strategies – incorporating indigenous knowledge, community participation, and regional priorities – enhance the effectiveness of resilience-building measures.
Third, Building Community Empowerment for Resilience: Empower and include local communities to participate in resilience planning and resource management. This leads to greater ownership and better-prepared neighborhoods that can collectively respond to climate challenges.
Fourth, Urban Ecosystem Restoration: Integrating green and blue infrastructure, such as parks, wetlands, and urban forests, enhances resilience. This reduces flood risks, cools cities, improves air quality, and contributes to biodiversity conservation.
Fifth, Data and Digital Transformation for Climate-Ready Cities: The use of climate data and digital tools enables cities to anticipate risks, optimize resource use, and implement proactive rather than reactive solutions.
Sixth, Policy and Cross-Border Collaboration: Building resilience requires policies that support climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as collaboration across cities and countries. Partnerships can leverage shared knowledge and resources, building stronger, more climate-ready urban regions.
Seventh, Investment in Resilient Infrastructure: Resilient infrastructure investments are essential for long-term urban stability, especially in public health, housing, transportation, and energy. Sustainable finance and investment partnerships can support these necessary developments.
Eight, on Climate Justice and Inclusivity: Climate resilience should prioritize vulnerable populations who face the greatest climate risks. Inclusivity in resilience strategies can reduce inequities, ensuring all community members are better protected against climate impacts.
Finally, a quick word about mental health. We’ve made great progress mainstreaming mental health in recent years, but we all know there is still a lot more work left to do. Mental health and psychosocial support mechanisms should be built into everything that we do. We need to incorporate this into all our plans, at every level – particularly in the context of urban settings.
I am very pleased to inform you that, in South-East Asia, many of the priorities I have mentioned today are already the pillars of our Regional Roadmap. Our Member States, and my Regional Office, have together identified vulnerable population groups, technology and innovation, partnerships, and mental health as our focus areas over my tenure as Regional Director.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our commitment to our countries. As WHO, as the South-East Region, and as the Regional Director– I and we are committed to helping our Member States improve the public health of their cities, particularly in the context of climate resilience.
Thank you.