Download Climate Change and Rio+20

The Experience
of the
Caribbean in
the Lead up to
Rio+20 and the
Involvement of
Health
H. Elizabeth Thompson
Assistant Secretary General - United Nations
&
Executive Coordinator-UN Conference
on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
Looking Back and Looking
Forward
Rio+20 conference On
Sustainable Development
The objectives Conference
to
secure renewed political commitment for
sustainable development
assess
the progress to date and the remaining
gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of
the major summits on sustainable development
address
new and emerging challenges
Conference Themes
 Green
economy in the context of
sustainable development and poverty
eradication
 The
institutional framework for sustainable
development
Setting the Historical Context:
The Rio Platform
“Agenda 21,” the Outcome Document of the iconic
Earth Conference of 1992 contained a chapter on
health.
“Protecting and Promoting Human Health,”

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Meeting Primary Health Care Needs Particularly In
Rural Areas
Control of Communicable Diseases
Protecting Vulnerable Groups
Meeting the Urban Health Challenge
Reducing Health Risks from Environmental Pollution
and Hazards
Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs)
 End
poverty and hunger
 Gender Equity
 Child Health
 Maternal Health
 Environmental Sustainability
 Combat HIV/AIDS
 Universal Education
 Global Partnership
Where We Are Now:
Health Challenges in the
Caribbean

Aging population – diseases of old age and
impacts on social care systems (national insurance
etc.) against a narrow band of population defined
as young

Chronic non-communicable diseases – morbidity,
mortality, family and social costs

Diseases related to climate/pollution – allergies,
asthma, dengue fever, post hurricane/flood
problems
Where We Are Now:
Health Challenges in the
Caribbean C’td
 HIV/AIDS
 Maternal
and child health - % of live births
per 100,000
 The
cost of health care – especially in the
context of shrinking national budgets and
government expenditure
Expected Outcomes of Rio+20

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Document for universal sustainable development
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Urgency re water, oceans, food
security/sovereignty, energy
Enlarged understanding of planetary
boundaries/critical thresholds
Principles for development of a green economy
(within national policy and constraints)
Consideration of financial issues and GDP+
Identifying Priorities for the Caribbean

Defining the green economy – investments in
human, social and natural capital including
health and education and health education

Dealing with elderly and youth

Investing in primary health care – prevention
and early intervention

Effecting behavioural change – NCDs and
HIV
Identifying Priorities for the
Caribbean c’td

Food and nutrition challenge of both undernutrition and over nutrition

Water – water stress and scarcity in the Caribbean,
access to potable water and water for
development

Energy – fuel for life

Oceans – as they relate to Caribbean health
statistics, protein consumption, jobs and oceans as
critical maritime territory
Identifying Priorities for the
Caribbean c’td

Consider and review the National Regional and
International mechanisms and institutions for
delivering on the agenda

Getting appropriate language included in the text

Ensuring that health is one of the SDGs

Compendium of Commitments
Central to the successful
management of health issues
 Empowering
Caribbean people to make
decisions about their own health
 Strengthening national policy formulation
and delivery
 Collaborating on cross-regional
approaches
 The regional approach should be Rio++ so
that the region has its own approach
irrespective of the Rio outcome
The Divide
The Divide
The Divide
Barbados
St. Lucia Petit Piton
Boat Building in Guadeloupe
St Martin (French side) at twilight