Development Talk: How Do We Build Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare Systems?

Welcome to a Development Talk on climate change and public health, focusing on sustainable and resilient healthcare systems.

Hosted by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the World Health Organization (WHO) and us at Nordic Center for Sustainable Healthcare (NCSH).

Zeenat, 32, gets her blood pressure checked by a nurse in a medical camp in a campsite for people displaced by flooding in Pakistan. With a focus on antenatal care, this mobile clinic, supported by UNFPA, provide essential and emergency medical services to women and children. Source: © UNFPA/Shehzad Noorani

This year's UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai is the first ever to dedicate a whole day to climate change and health (December 3rd). In this Development Talk, crucial actors working with these issues are brought together the week before COP 28 to discuss actions and investments that are needed in the context of low- and middle-income countries.

Date: 21 November 2023

Time: 13.30–15.30 CET (Registration opens from 13.00)
Mingle for physical participants after the event.

Location: Sida’s Head Office, Ursvik Entré, Rissneleden 110 and livestreamed on Sida's YouTube page and from Sida's LinkedIn page

Register here

This event is free of charge. Welcome to join physically or online!
Registration for physical participation is open until November 20th.

About the event

There is an intricate relationship between climate change and public health.

Climate change and environmental problems are root causes of a significant burden of death, disease and disability. WHO has assessed that climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050, which will affect the poorest and most disadvantaged the most. Disadvantaged communities are the most vulnerable. Considering this, healthcare systems all over the world will need to develop resilience to climate change-related events.

At the same time, healthcare systems are also a source of carbon dioxide emissions, environmental pollution and ill-health. About 15 % of the waste generated by healthcare activities is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, hazardous chemicals or radioactive. Health care systems need to reduce waste and incorporate green energy to mitigate climate change and pollution and to be able to meet the increasing and diversifying health needs.

What does a sustainable and climate-resilient health system look like? What is required to achieve sustainable and climate-resilient health systems in the context of low- and middle-income countries? How can donors, young people, civil society, the UN, the private sector, researchers and governments contribute? What decisions need to be taken at COP 28 to succeed? These are question that this Development Talk will explore.

Programme

The physical event will be followed by a mingle, to enable connections, exchange of knowledge and cooperation between the participants.

• Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head, Climate Change and Health Unit, WHO Headquarters: Climate change and health: What is the problem and why do we need to focus on health systems?
• Diego Angelino, Director International Programs, Nordic Centre for Sustainable Health Care: Grønnköpingkið: The World’s Greenest Hospital

• Prof. Magaly Blas, Director, Mamás del Rio program, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
• Khusbu Poudel, Program Coordinator for Climate Justice, Gender and SRHR, Ipas Nepal

• Prisca Chisala, Director of Programs and Development, Malawi Red Cross Society
• Dr. Jan Semenza, Institution for public health and clinic medicine, department for sustainable health, University of Umeå
• Omnia El Omrani, first official Youth Envoy for the President of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference
• Ulla Möller, Director, UNFPA Nordic Representation Office

• Lusiana Biumaiwai, Climate Change and Health, Ministry of Health, Fiji
• Misganaw Tewachew, Focal point Climate Change and Health, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
• Mattias Frumerie, Sweden’s Climate Ambassador
• Maria Neira, Department Head, Health, Environment and Climate Change, WHO Headquarters

• Sarah Thomsen, Lead Policy Specialist Health and SRHR, Sida
• Jaime Smith, Senior Policy Specialist, Sida