Jumoke Olasunkanmi
In response to the rapidly changing climate, the World Health OOrganisation (WHO) has introduced an operational framework aimed at constructing climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems.
Released ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (COP-28), this comprehensive framework is designed to bolster the resilience of health systems while simultaneously curbing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby safeguarding the health of communities worldwide.
According to WHO’s statement released on Thursday, the director genral of the foremost health body, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, “We therefore have a dual responsibility to build health systems that can withstand climate-related shocks, while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint. This framework gives countries a roadmap for doing just that.”
As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common, the imperative for climate-resilient health systems has never been more pressing, he added, stressing that WHO’s framework offers a visionary approach to tackle this challenge, with the core objective of protecting and enhancing the health of populations in the face of a shifting and unstable climate.
The framework also underscores the need for optimising resource utilisation and implementing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all while maintaining a focus on climate resilience. It presents an opportunity for the health sector to lead by example by reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, currently accounting for almost 5% of the global total, while simultaneously improving the quality of care.
It also offers various pathways for health systems to strengthen their climate resilience and decarbonise based on their overall performance, levels of greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change and health capacity.
This includes low-income countries that must increase energy access and health service provision to achieve universal health coverage. Building climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems aligns with WHO’s commitment to providing safe, quality healthcare services while addressing the root causes of climate change.
WHO explained that the implementation of the framework will also help achieve the objectives of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saying, “The benefits of implementing this Framework extend far beyond the realm of health care. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the resilience of health systems, we are contributing to the broader objectives of universal health coverage (UHC), global health security, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
The framework’s development came in response to a request from Ministers of Health from over 75 countries for WHO’s support in building climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health systems. These countries formed the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) during the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP26) in November 2021, with the support of the United Kingdom and WHO. ATACH was officially established in June 2022 to advance this agenda.
