Session 4: Sustainability - Climate Change and Public Health
Moderated by Dr. Sofia Viegas, Deputy Director, National Institute of Health Mozambique, the IANPHI Climate Change and Public Health Committee Chair, Dr. Sebastien Denys, presented the work of the Committee in line with the Roadmap launched in 2021. Following this presentation, several national public health institutes (NPHls) shared their experiences in working on the impacts of climate change and public health and emphasized the crucial role NPHls can play in adapting and responding to climate change.
Prof. Aamer lkram, IANPHI Executive Board Advisor, opened the conversation by setting the context, highlighting the evolution of IANPHl's work on climate change and public health and the direct link between the two. "IANPHI has a pivotal role, and it recognizes [climate change] as increasingly important to deal with [to address public health issues]".
Presentation of the IANPHI Climate Change and Public Health Committee and its Work
By Dr. Sebastien Denys, Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Santé Publique France, and Chair of the IANPHI Thematic Committee on Climate Change and Public Health
Dr. Sebastien Denys shed light on the intricate relationship between climate change and public health, emphasizing the significant impacts on physical and mental well-being. The Chair of the IANPHI Committee on Climate Change and Public Health presentation underscored the potential for NPHls to serve as key players in mitigating climate-related health issues. The committee's initiatives, spanning capacity building, publication dissemination, and advocacy, aimed to harness NPHls' expertise in addressing climate challenges. While acknowledging ongoing efforts, such as launching a roadmap during COP26, the presentation also highlighted challenges, including the need for broader international participation and securing funding for essential activities. The invitation to NPHls worldwide to join the committee reflected a collaborative approach to tackling climate change's health implications, echoing the sentiment that proactive investments then would yield dividends in safeguarding public health against future challenges.
The ENBEL Project: Communicating Climate Change and Health
By Dr. Sonja Myhre, Senior advisor,
Dr. Sonja Myhre began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to showcase the work of the ENSEL project, specifically highlighting the ENBEL Research Factsheet series that focuses on communicating the link between climate change and health. ENSEL, funded by EU Horizon 2020, involved a consortium of 17 partners across 14 countries, employing a transdisciplinary approach to research. The ENSEL projects each addressed various health impacts of climate change, emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate change and health on a global scale. The ENSEL Research Factsheet series, comprised of fourteen issues dedicated to a broad range of climate change and health topics, highlights the diversity of research under the ENSEL umbrella. This series synthesizes findings from project publications and materials thus showcasing direct and indirect climate change and health issues, public health-related climate tools (i.e., mobile health applications and early warning systems), and climate hazards in diverse geographic locations. The series uses a consistent layout and structure to enhance readability and employs key design elements to facilitate access to evidence using visually attractive formats to bridge the gap between research and policy. The presentation emphasized the importance of addressing vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant women, children, elderly, outdoor manual workers), understanding the indirect impacts of climate change (e.g., on livelihoods and infrastructure), and leveraging the power of aggregation to amplify the impact of ENSEL research.
Dr. Myhre mentioned preliminary milestones of the ENSEL Research Factsheet series, including positive engagement from diverse stakeholders and dissemination through platforms like the UnitedNations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction IUNDRRl website. The presentation concluded by sharing additional resources, including policy briefs, videos, tools, educational materials, training courses, and publications available online on ENSEL's Knowledge Hub.
Status Report on Climate Change and Health for Germany, 2023
By Kirsten Kelleher & Martin Mlinarić, Office for Climate Change and Health, Robert Koch Institute, Germany
Dr. Kirsten Kelleher and Dr. Martin Mlinarić began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to present the status report on climate change and health for Germany. The report was coordinated at the Robert Koch lnstitut and funded by the Federal Ministry ofHealth. The main objective of the report was to provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence available on the diverse impacts of climate change on health, focusing on Germany. Unlike a similar report published in 2010, this report involved peer-reviewed research written by experts from across the nation and published in both English and German. It aimed to go beyond synthesizing evidence to communicate recommendations based on the evidence. The report involved about 100 authors from approximately 30 national institutions, including government agencies, research institutions, and NGOs. The intersectoral effort was highlighted in the editorial, jointly written by the heads of 11 government agencies involved, stressing the need for collaboration to counter the effects of climate change. The report was published as a three-part series in the RKl-run Journal of Health Monitoring, covering topics such as infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, and cross-cutting issues. The report provided insights into the impacts of climate change on health, including increasing waterborne infections and intoxications due to rising sea surface temperatures and the extension of the pollen season leading to a rise in allergic diseases. The report also addressed cross-cutting issues like climate justice and communication strategies related to climate change and health as well as proposed recommendations and strategies for adaptation and mitigation measures, emphasizing the importance of governance, evidence-based information, and communication measures. These strategies included targeting the scientific community and decision-makers in the public health service sector through journals, social media platforms, expert consultations, and online surveys. The report highlighted the need for further research, governance clarification, and resource allocation to effectively address climate change and health issues.
Organization and Experiences in Planning and Implementing Work Relating to Climate Change and Public Health in India at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
By Dr. Aakash Shrivastava, Additional Director and Head and Dr. Purvi Patel, Senior Consultant, National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health,
Dr. Aakash Shrivastava discussed the experiences of implementing climate change initiatives in public health India's National Centre for Disease Control. He expressed gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity to present their work. He outlined the establishment of the National Programme on ClimateChange and Human Health in 2019, which aimed to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries, and health vulnerability to climate variability and extreme weather events. The Programme focused on objectives such as generating awareness, building the capacity of the health workforce, strengthening health sector preparedness, collaborating with partner organizations, and steering research on health and climate change. Dr. Shrivastava highlighted the development of health advisories, training programs for healthcare professionals, inclusion of climate change education in medical curricula, and efforts to strengthen surveillance systems for climate-sensitive health conditions. He discussed collaboration with various ministries and organizations, as well as the organizational framework at central, state, and district levels. He provided examples of adaptation and mitigation activities, such as developing state-level climate change and health action plans, development of green and climate resilient health facilities and implementing environmental-health surveillance systems for air-pollution and heat-related illnesses. He concluded by expressing appreciation and showcasing specific initiatives undertaken in different states of India, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and data driven interventions in addressing climate change and health issues.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Sebastien Denys expressed gratitude to the speakers and emphasized the collective concern for climate change issues, noting that despite diverse geographical origins, everyone has to remain united in addressing these challenges. He likened the community to a family, underscoring the importance of collaboration and organization within organizations to effectively tackle climate change. Dr. Denys acknowledged the complexity of the issue, which spanned various sectors including environmental, infectious disease prevention, and social inequalities. He highlighted the need for effective communication both within and outside the public health sector to raise awareness and drive action. Dr. Denys concluded by inviting more individuals to join the committee and contribute to the ongoing work, expressing optimism about the progress made and the potential for continued collaboration in addressing climate change issues.
"We need to find a good way to communicate with all the actors inside the public sector but also outside the public health sector to allow first to understand the issues and of course to act to improve public health regarding climate change issues." Dr. Denys