Climate Change and HealthTrends 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

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.

Report of CC and Health in Mongolia

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. evidence and awareness

2. strengthen health systems response

3. 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:

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 Health sector adaptation capacity building China and the Philippines

Korea and Japan (PTT) funds 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

“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 OrganizationStatement on World Environment Day, 5th June 2007.

The WHO response: Underlying principles

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH

30 July 2009, UlaanbaatarFor 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

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;