A group of 47 countries, including Spain, announced this Monday at the Glasgow climate summit (known as COP26) that undertake to develop resilient health systems and low carbon in response to the growing evidence of the impact of change Climate on the health of people.
Some of these countries are vulnerable to health damage caused by climate change, as well as several of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world.
A total of 42 of them have also committed to transforming their health systems to be more sustainable and low in carbon. And a dozen have established an objective date to reach zero net carbon emissions as too late in 2050.
These commitments are part of the COP26 Health Program, an association between the Government of the United Kingdom, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Climate Champions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Groups Health as medical attention without damage.
"The future of health should be built on health systems that are resistant to the impacts of epidemics, pandemics and other emergencies, but also to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather phenomena and the growing burden of various diseases related to the Air pollution and warming of our planet, "said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, General Director of the WHO.
GheBeysus stressed that "health systems should also be part of the solution, reducing carbon emissions." "We applaud the countries that have committed themselves to build health systems for climate and low carbon, and we hope to see many others following their example in the near future," he added.
Among the countries that have committed to achieving sustainable health systems with low carbon emissions are Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Spain, United States, Fiji and Malawi. And among the nations that are proposed to improve climate resilience of their health systems are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Maldives and Netherlands.
The Government of Fiji, for example, is responding to the increase in cyclones, sudden floods and sea level increase - which cause lack of drinking water due to the intrusion of saltwater - with the construction of a more resistant health infrastructure The climate, the strengthening of the health force and the provision of sustainable energy services to health care facilities.
"The Message of WHO and health professionals around the world is clear: Climate change is a great challenge for health and we must act now. I am very happy to see so many countries prioritizing this topic through the program of health COP26 and its level of ambition. A strong leadership of the health sector is vital to make sure to protect our populations from the impacts of climate change by improving climate resilience of health systems and by reducing emissions from the sector of Health, "said Wendy Morton, Minister for Europe and the Americas of the Office of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development of the United Kingdom.
The commitments of the countries come from a WHO survey, broadcast this Monday, which shows that most countries now include health in their national climate plans, but these commitments often still lack detailed health actions or mechanisms of support.
"These government commitments exemplify the growing global movement of health for climate action. Around the world, doctors, nurses, hospitals, health systems and ministries of health are reducing their climate mark, becoming more resistant and advocating a just transition that Put your health at the center of a decarbonized civilization, "Josh Karliner, International Director of Program and Health Care Strategy.
In addition to national commitments, 54 institutions from 21 countries representing more than 14,000 hospitals and health centers are committed to achieving zero carbon net emissions by 2050.
A record number of health leaders participate at the Glasgow climate summit and more than 45 million health professionals, who represent two thirds of the world's health workforce, have signed a letter urging governments to take More energetic measures by pointing out that "hospitals, clinics and communities around the world have already been responding to health damage caused by climate change."
Date Of Update: 08 November 2021, 19:03
