WHO must improve its cooperation with the EU to deliver on climate action, says HCWH Europe

Geneva, 29 August 2014 – Today, the World Health Organization concluded the first global working meeting on climate and health. The three-day event brought together a large number of government ministers, health practitioners and experts in climate change and sustainable development.

WHO’s conclusions of the event, based on the discussions, will be delivered to the UN Secretary General on behalf of the health community, ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Summit in New York on 23 September 2014. The document acknowledges the imminent threat that climate change poses to public health, reiterates the need for swift action and identifies a set of possible solutions.

To build on the growing momentum, today HCWH Europe joined 15 civil society organisations in a call to action for health leaders (among others) to "lead by example, making sustainability core business for the health sector, including by implementing low-carbon healthcare and public health policies."

Kornelia Bagi, Climate Policy Officer for HCWH Europe comments, "We welcome WHO’s leadership in convening the Conference on Health and Climate Change; however they will have to provide more effective support to improve the relatively weak engagement of the health sector in climate action. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation has to improve its cooperation with the European Union to achieve the desired outcome in Europe."


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