Climate Services for Health Becoming climate smart

Transcription

1 Climate Services for Health Becoming climate smart Global Framework for Climate Services Dominica National Consultation August 2014 Dominica Dr. Joy Shumake-Guillemot WHO/WMO Climate and Health Office

2 OVERVIEW Whats the big deal? What is being done? What can we do?

3 Part 1 Climate and health What s the big deal?

4 Climate Change is an inconvenient truth for health - Each year: - Undernutrition kills 3.5 million - Diarrhoea kills 2.2 million - Malaria kills 900, Extreme weather events kill 60,000 These, and others, are highly sensitive to changing climate. - WHO estimates that climate change causes over 140,000 additional deaths per year 4 Overview of health engagement in climate change

5 Climate Commitment We are committed to 1C (1.8F) increase Risks of dangerous impacts rise sharply as planetary warming exceeds 2 C from preindustrial levels. Source: IPCC AR5 2014

6 A look at future health Source: IPCC AR5 2014

7 Climate change will make extreme weather events more likely 2003 Heatwave Adapted from Stott et al, Nature, Overview of health engagement in climate change

8 So what does that mean for development? Manage the unavoidable impacts through adaptation or prevention/preparedness in coming decades and, avoid the unmanageable by mitigating future climate change by reducing Green House Gases, 8 Overview of health engagement in climate change

9 Definitions Adaptation includes the strategies, policies, and measures undertaken now and in the future to reduce the burden of climate-sensitive health determinants and outcomes. Reactive or planned adjustments which aim to reduce vulnerability or enhance resilience in response to observed or expected changes in climate and associated extreme weather events (Adger et al, 2007). adaptation starts with reducing vulnerabilities and climate risk management of current extremes 9 Overview of health engagement in climate change

10 GOOD News about Adaptation - Many solutions to manage climate risks to health exist. - Can be smarter by understanding the climate and weather being more informed about drivers of risk. Tools and opportunities exist. - Result can be getting ahead of the curve to anticipate health, nutrition, and water related risks - Protect development achievements, strengthen health systems, improve and protect quality of life in the communities we care about. 10 Overview of health engagement in climate change

11 BAD News about Adaptation We cant see future clearly: evidence/data limitations & complex pathways Its not only about doing better development New information and new skills are required to be smarter about what we have always done New partnerships are essential Not all climate risks will be avoidable or fixable 11 Overview of health engagement in climate change

12 Part 2 What is being done? Global Action on health protection from climate change 12 Overview of health engagement in climate change

13 What is the status of health in the UNFCCC? Health has been recognized since the beginning 1992 Rio conference and the UNFCCC 1992 RIO DECLARATION Principle 1: "Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature." UNFCCC Article 1: Prevent Adverse effects of climate change :.changes in the physical environment or biota resulting from climate change which have significant deleterious effects on the composition, resilience or productivity of natural and managed ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic systems or on human health and welfare. 13 Overview of health engagement in climate change

14 WHO Health and climate change timeline IPCC 5th Copenhagen, Assessment IPCC/Gore CoP Nobel Kyoto Protocol 0.6 IPCC established UNFCCC, Rio Year 14 Overview of health engagement in climate change st WHO assessment WHA CC Burden Resolution of disease World (>150,000 WHO CCHH Health Day deaths) programmes WPRO& SEARO 1st WPRO meetings meeting Regional Resolutions Global Temperature Anomaly (Versus average) Climate Health Global Conference

15 Inconvenient truths for health in climate policy 5 years ago 1) How many times was health mentioned in the 200 page draft agreement proposed in Copenhagen in 2009? 2) How many of the 323 side events focussed on health? 1 3) What percentage of global climate funds were allocated to health projects? 4) Of the 13 main economic models to inform climate mitigation decisions, how many incorporated health co-benefits? 15 Overview of health engagement in climate change

16 What is the status of health in the UNFCCC? Health continues to be neglected in climate change support mechanisms LDCs identifying health as adaptation priority Funds requested for health 16 Overview of health engagement in climate change Number of adaptation projects submitted Funds awarded for health

17 Potential explanations for lack of support to protect health: -Overall lack of funding for adaptation in general -Health community largely absent from the NAPA process -Health sector not submitting proposals -Not enough technical guidance -Continued low awareness and capacity 17 Overview of health engagement in climate change

18 Recent progress on climate change and health 18 Overview of health engagement in climate change

19 Public identifies with connection between health and climate change Globescan poll in 30 countries (UNDP 2007): Now I would like to ask you some questions about climate change, which is sometimes referred to as global warming or the greenhouse effect. Which ONE of the following possible impacts most concerns you personally, if any? 19 Overview of health engagement in climate change

20 World Health Assembly Resolution (2008), and regional resolutions, including the Americas (2011) CD51.R15 20 Overview of health engagement in climate change

21 UNFCCC Warsaw CoP : Health Outcomes - Health now widely recognized as one of the key objectives of adaptation, and of reducing black carbon - Request made specifically for a health report under the Nairobi Work Programme on adaptation - Unclear how health will be represented in Green Climate Fund - Climate and Clean Air Coalition is an important opportunity to promote health 21 Overview of health engagement in climate change

22 Expanding evidence 22 Overview of health engagement in climate change

23 Expanding programmes and experience in health adaptation GEF/ UNDP/ WHO BMU/ WHO-Euro MDG-F/ WHO GEF/ UNDP DFID/ WHO Also multiple research projects and vulnerability and adaptation assessments 23 Overview of health engagement in climate change

24 Clearer approach to health adaptation planning and content Ebi et al, WHO Guidance for health in national adaptation plans Guillemot et al, WHO draft operational framework for health adaptation: 24 Overview of health engagement in climate change

25 WHO WMO Climate and Health Office Aim To promote the development and use of climate and weather services that improve health outcomes and enhance the management of climate related risks to health. Objectives 1.Advance WHO and WMO policy on climate services for health 2.Expand climate services and health programs and research 3.Enhance coordination and partnerships 4.Develop communications and outreach 25 Overview of health engagement in climate change

26 Global Dialog and Direction The Conference objectives are to empower the health and sustainable development communities to: 1) Enhance resilience and protect health from climate change. 2) Identify the health benefits associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other climate pollutants. 3) Support health-promoting climate change policies Overview of health engagement in climate change

27 PART 3 What can we do in Dominica? Activating Climate Knowledge to Build Resilience 27 Overview of health engagement in climate change

28 National Level Opportunities - The health sector can support and engage with the national climate coordination mechanisms - A high-quality "Health-National Adaptation Plan is essential and possible - Don't need to rely only on the UNFCCC mechanisms for financial support mainstreaming adaptation planning into ongoing programming most effective. - Make use of everyday opportunities to strengthen health systems and enhance preparedness for the future. 28 Overview of health engagement in climate change

29 Health agenda calls for increased action to. Adapt to climate change Manage health risks of floods and storm Manage air pollution risks Future climate projections hazard mapping, seasonal and weather forecasts Air quality monitoring & modeling Epidemic preparedness & early warning Stronger evidence base on disease linkages to environmental determinants Real-time observational data Historical climate data Regular, reliable, timely information mainstreamed into decision-making Lessons learned -- even when data is available it may not be useable without tailored climate services

30 Untapped potential Health useful climate and weather information is now available across timescales Decades Centuries Forecast uncertainty Years Seasons Months Climate scenarios and projections 2 Weeks 1 Week Climate predictions Days Need to assess utility of available products to help Climate Risk Management and Health Adaptation Hours Minutes Weather forecasting

31 Health Sector must be come more CLIMATE-RESILIENT The ability of a health system to anticipate, respond to, cope with, recover from and adapt to climate-related shocks and stress, so as to bring sustained improvements in population health, despite an unstable climate. Climate services are an essential element to our abilty to become climate resilient

32 Provides users an interface through which to work with meteorological partners Provides climate service providers -- National Meteorological Services -- Mandate Structure Process Support to be able to engage with sectors 32 Overview of health engagement in climate change 32

33 New Opportunities to access and develop Climate Services for Health Global Regional National UN System Research institutes Universities NGOs UN Delivering as One Development agencies Regional Climate Centres Universities NGOs Regional Climate Outlook Forums Sector-specific climate outlook forums Ministries NMHSs Universities NGOs National Climate Outlook Forums User forums Health community needs are localized, diverse and complex National Climate Services processes can help link users to available resources 33

34 Starting points for building climate resilience Identify risks Identify response options Climate variability today Long-term changes Identify climate knowledge needs Develop climate services to support health sector

35 More information: Global Framework for Climate Services Climate Change and Health 35 Overview of health engagement in climate change