To adapt our health systems, it is necessary to intensify essential measures such as vector control, epidemiological surveillance and access to drinking water and sanitation. In addition, health workers need to be trained and systems supported to implement the guidelines of the WHO Framework for the development of climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems.
In order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on health, the group of experts emphasizes the importance of reducing or even stopping emissions. According to the WHO, air pollution causes seven million premature deaths every year. To protect people’s health and achieve sustainable outcomes, urgent remedial action is needed, including switching to clean energy sources.
The healthcare sector is aware that its own systems generate emissions and is committed to reducing them through decarbonization, digitalization of medicine and the adoption of sustainable practices in hospitals and healthcare facilities to dramatically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse gas, which corresponds to 5% of the global total.
Currently, more than 1 billion people require treatment in health facilities where power supply is unstable or non-existent. The global health community is therefore calling for healthcare facilities in low-income countries without electricity to be powered by clean energy as quickly as possible. In this context, WHO is working with its partners to advance the electrification of these facilities using renewable energy, ensure that they have sufficient medical equipment, and promote the transition to adopt clean energy sources, improve services and reduce dependence on gasoline and diesel.
WHO is aware of the large economic differences between different health systems
“The global health community would like to draw attention to the varying levels of financing of health systems around the world and the need to seek new sources of financing. In particular, it is critical to end the use and subsidies of fossil fuels and provide more funding to equip health systems with resources that will enable them to address climate change,” he said.
The WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) seeks to harness the influence that WHO Member States and stakeholders can have together to make health systems more resilient to climate change. In addition, this alliance is responsible for identifying the areas where more funding is needed.
Currently, this sector receives only 0.5% of the funds allocated to combat climate change. “To successfully address the many challenges that lie ahead – from the current global health crisis to continued advances in technology and medical research – we must make a strong commitment to funding these areas. “If the economic resources allocated to it are significantly increased, the health sector will have greater capacity to innovate, adapt and provide optimal care, and its infrastructure will be better able to withstand current and future climate impacts,” the WHO said in a statement.
WHO calls for urgent action on climate and health at COP28
The global collective of health experts has urged leaders meeting at COP28 to understand that action to curb climate change benefits people’s health and to be aware that turning a blind eye to this reality will have serious consequences will have consequences for the well-being of humanity both today and in the future.
There are even calls to take responsibility for improving the resilience of health systems, reducing emissions and prioritizing health.