Download Climate Change and Health Trends in WPRO

Climate Change and Health
Trends in the WPRO
WHO country office
More Extreme Weathers
CC affects the fundamental requirements
for health – clean air, safe drinking water,
sufficient and secure shelter
Report of CC and Health in Mongolia
Increase in extreme weather events including dust storm, desertification, heat
and cold waves and dryness are seriously affecting population health in
Mongolia with their probable effect on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
of the population.
Regional Committee Meeting,
September 2008

WPR/RC59.R7 on protecting health from the
effects of climate change
 Endorsed the Regional Framework for Action to
Protect Human Health from the Effects of Climate
Change in the Asia-Pacific Region:



Increase awareness of health consequences of climate
change
Strengthen health systems capacity to provide protection
from climate-related risks, and reduce GHG emissions in
health systems
Ensure that health concerns are addressed in decisions
to reduce risks from climate change in other key sectors
Regional Framework on Climate Change
and Health
Regional framework provides guidance on WHO
support to Member States in the following areas:
1.
2.
3.
evidence and awareness
strengthen health systems response
health concerns in decisions of other sectors.
WHO collaborates with Member States to
implementing the regional framework.
1. Increase awareness
Studies on health implications of climate
change
 Awareness programme and resource
materials

2. Strengthen health system responses

Projected climate change risks incorporated
into health policies, plans and programmes
 Strengthening infrastructure and interventions,
e.g. surveillance, disaster management, early
warning, local adaptations
 Climate change focal points and mechanisms
in national health institutions
 Programmes to reduce GHG emissions by the
health sector
3. Health concerns in development
decisions

Strategies to incorporate projected climate
change health risks into policies, strategies
and measures of key development sectors
(e.g. promotion of public and non-motorized
transport and clean energy)
 Health sector participating in national
communications to UNFCCC
 Health participation in the national climate
change team
Regional Framework on Climate
Change

59th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for
the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
22 to 26 September 2008

Resolution on Protecting Health from the
Effects of Climate Change

http://www.wpro.who.int/rcm/en/rc59/rc_resolutions/WPR_RC59_R7.htm
World Health Assembly, 2009


WHO workplan on climate change and health,
Requests WHO to:



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Advocacy: to raise awareness that CC is a fundamental threat to
human health
Partnership: to coordinate with partner agencies with the UN system,
and ensure that health is properly represented in the CC agenda
Science and evidence: to coordinate reviews of scientific evidence on
the links between CC and health, and develop a global research
agenda
Health system strengthening: to assist countries to assess their health
vulnerabilities and build capacity to reduce health vulnerability to CC
Requests Member States to:




Develop health measures and integrate them into adaptation plans
Build the capacity of public health leaders
Strengthen the capacity of health systems for disaster management
Promote health sector engagement with other sectors to reduce risks
WPRO Regional Working Group on
Protecting Health from Climate Change
Western Pacific Regional Office has formed a
working group:
 infectious diseases
 food security
 food-borne diseases
 disaster management
 water-borne diseases
 vector-borne diseases
 chronic respiratory diseases
 mental health

health-system strengthening.
Next Steps – Regional activities


Compile and disseminate (1) technical guidelines for
health vulnerability assessment, (2) good practices in
adaptation and mitigation in health sector, and (3)
examples of health protecting and promoting climate
change related policies, plans and programmes of other
sectors
Identify, and develop a network of experts, collaborating
centres, institutions that can serve as sources of
expertise and knowledge on climate change and health
Next Steps - Country support

Assess health impact and vulnerability in
countries
 Organize awareness programmes on health
impacts of climate change
 Develop and implement national action plans
on adaptation and mitigation in health sector
 Engage with other sectors (e.g. transport,
energy, industry, urban development, water
resource management, etc.) to address health
concerns in their decisions on climate change
mitigation and adaptation
Country activities

Spanish MDG funds


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Korea and Japan (PTT) funds



Health sector adaptation capacity building
China and the Philippines
For developing policies and gaining better skills for
research on adaptation, mitigation, and health risks
assessment
Cambodia, Mongolia and Samoa
Collaboration with IDRC Canada


Cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis of CC&H
Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Viet
Nam,
WHO programme- From describing risks, to
highlighting vulnerabilities, to proposing responses
WHO Related Websites

Climate Change and Human Health

http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/en/
Publications on Climate Change and
Health

http://www.who.int/globalchange/publications/en/index.html
The WHO response: Underlying principles
“There are two things that we can and must do to
respond to this challenge. First, we need to strengthen
public health systems, which are the first line of defence
against climate-related health risks.
Second, we need to remember that prevention is just as
important as cure. …Many of the actions that are
necessary to reduce our impact on the global climate
can also reduce pollution and save lives now.
Dr Margaret Chan, Director General, World Health Organization
Statement on World Environment Day, 5th June 2007.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
30 July 2009, Ulaanbaatar
For the Government
 Appeal to countries, the region and the global community for joint efforts
on climate change adaptation and mitigation;
 Include findings of the health sector assessment on climate change and
health in the Second National Communication to UNFCCC;
 Expand collaboration with UN agencies, other international
organizations, donors on adaptation to and mitigation of climate change
and encourage wider participation of the private sector, NGOs,
professional groups and the public;
 Mobilize and seek financial resources, such as Climate Investment
Funds led by the World Bank to implement the climate change
adaptation strategies;
 Participate in the inter-country study on health impacts of desertification
in Mongolia, PRC, Republic of Korea and Japan with a view to develop
and implement a joint plan to combat desertification;
 Conduct National Summit on Climate Change every two years jointly with
other agencies and stakeholders;
 Establish a National Committee on adaptation and mitigation of climate
change effects;
For the Ministry of Health
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Finalize a national strategy on Climate Change and Health, hold
discussions with wide participation of stakeholders for its review
and incorporate into the National Climate Change Adaptation
Strategy and Programme;
Develop and implement local and site specific V&A plans on
CC&H in the vulnerable areas of Mongolia;
Strengthen the health sector’s capacity for preparedness,
prevention and response to natural disasters and emergencies;
Develop and implement communication strategies to convey
proper messages on CC&H;
Establish technical working groups for non-communicable
diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc.) and CC&H
indicators and create a monitoring and surveillance mechanism;
For other relevant ministries
Strengthen capacity of the
meteorological sector in the field of
comprehensive identification of climate
change trends in Mongolia;
 Set up a research center to conduct in
depth survey on climate change;
 Develop a surveillance methodology on
climate change, train and build capacity
of personnel in this field;
