Building a health service that is resilient to climate change with sustainable energy

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Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the leaders of more than 20 governments and international organizations have agreed They called for efforts to increase the climate resilience of health care facilities and improve indoor air quality with sustainable energy..

of to practicalityIt focuses on 6 areas a Strategic road map To promote healthy people through clean and sustainable energy To address the inequity and health issues caused by the lack of access to clean cooking and electricity in health facilities. Activities include: considering clean cooking and access to electricity in health facilities as important development priorities to protect public health; Significantly increase public and private investments in electrification of health care facilities and clean cooking; and develop customized policy and financing plans to unlock the potential of clean and sustainable energy solutions.

Hundreds of millions of people are served in health facilities that lack electricity. This limits access to essential, life-saving medical equipment and seriously affects the quality, accessibility and reliability of health care.

“It is unacceptable that such a large number of people do not have access to adequate health services due to lack of electricity,” said Dr. Maria Nera, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. “A person’s right to health should not be determined by where they are born. The right to universal health care is our global responsibility.”

A third of the world’s population still depends on fossil fuels to meet their basic daily food needs. As a result, indoor air pollution causes 3.2 million premature deaths each year from non-communicable diseases and pneumonia. Households that rely on polluted fuel for cooking often risk creating an environment that puts the most vulnerable communities at greater risk. Cooking with polluting fuels is the largest source of black carbon, accounting for nearly half of global black carbon emissions.

Unfortunately, the lack of clean fuel and technologies starts at home. Because women and children spend most of their time at home, they are exposed to polluted air when waste fuel is used for cooking, and they are at increased risk when they travel far from home to collect firewood for cooking. Accelerating access to clean cooking will not only save millions of lives, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet.

While accelerating access to clean cooking and electricity, COP27 offers a great opportunity to move forward in tackling climate change and building resilience in health systems, saving millions of lives. The High-Level Coalition is ready to accelerate action with all partners at COP27 and beyond to ensure a healthy, clean and safe future for all.