Climate change is causing suffering, death and destruction – concerted climate action is our only hope for survival
Statement by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, at COP28 in Dubai
Your excellencies, dear friends,
I am delighted to see such strong representation from our Region at COP28 this year – reflecting our joint concern and ambition for climate action to protect health. Thank you for taking the outcomes of this discussion to the first-ever Climate-Health Ministerial later today.
The climate crisis is a health crisis, which carries the urgent call and responsibility to protect the health of current and future generations. This summer, for the first time, we declared the climate crisis and extreme weather a health emergency for our Region. We are witnessing an escalation of heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires, all heavily impacting the health of our people – and each year new and disastrous climate records are set. Over past decades the number of extreme weather events has increased by a factor of 5 in the WHO European Region. Last year alone, 62 000 deaths were attributable to heatwaves in 35 countries in the Region.
Read also
Colleagues, let me highlight 3 strategic priorities that we must take forward.
First, we need robust policies and political commitments as the foundation for urgent action.
The Budapest Declaration adopted at the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in July this year is a powerful example. It prioritizes urgent, multisectoral action on health challenges related to the triple crisis of climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss – and calls for strengthening prevention, response and resilience.
Second, we need to foster strong partnerships to drive change and action in countries.
In Budapest, we launched the Partnership for Health Sector Climate Action, led by Ireland, to build a regional community of practice, sharing experience and research for climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems.
Cross-regional collaboration is also essential. We are spearheading a new transatlantic initiative for high-level climate and health policy dialogues to mobilize faster and more effective action, working in partnership between the WHO regions of Europe and the Americas.
Above all, the voices, concerns and ambition of young people must be heard. The Partnership on Youth, together with the Youth4Health initiative, are advancing youth engagement in our work and decision-making processes.
Finally, we need strong country action and leadership to address the climate threat.
Creating climate-resilient communities requires robust health systems that continue to deliver quality care in an unstable, changing climate. At the same time, we need to cut emissions in all policies: on health, energy, water, food, urban development, housing and transport. Greenhouse gases and air pollution often come hand-in-hand, so mitigation measures can also produce major health co-benefits through reduced air pollution.
At WHO/Europe, I am taking unprecedented steps to mainstream climate across all policy domains. I am fully committed to this agenda, and proud to repeat the pledge I made to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe this year: that climate action is, and will, stand as a priority for our work in Europe and Central Asia
now and in the years to come, through united action for better health. We will do this together.
Thank you.
