ATACH Day at COP29: Taking Action for the Future We Want

Session 1: Climate Resilient Health Systems

The first technical session brought to the forefront the critical need to build the climate resilience of health systems in order to manage the risks posed by climate change.

"Though we are categorized as least emitters, we are at the forefront of the onslaught of the effects of climate change,” said Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu, Minister of Health of the Republic of Fiji, “and as such it is also affecting the health of our population."

Speakers highlighted the need for tailored solutions that reflect local contexts and health infrastructure, multi-sectoral collaboration, and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge.

"Climate change issues in Somalia are not just theoretical; they are deeply personal and painfully practical" said Dr Guled Abdijalil Ali, Director General of Ministry of Health in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Practical examples and experiences from Fiji, Indonesia, Somalia and Mauritania were showcased, including Fiji’s new Health National Adaptation Plan, health early warning systems in Indonesia, the use of solar power in in Somalia, and integration of climate change into health policies in Mauritania.

The panel discussion highlighted the need for a multi-faceted approach to building climate resilient health systems. It underscored the importance of community involvement, interdisciplinary research, and the active participation of youth.

Session 2: Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems

This session highlighted practical solutions, and discussed some of the challenges, to work towards low carbon sustainable health systems.

Presentations included innovative approaches to decarbonizing healthcare, such as using renewable energy and reducing supply chain emissions. The importance of moving from commitments to action was emphasized, with a focus on partnerships, capacity-building, and localized solutions. Quick wins, such as transitioning to renewable energy or reducing single-use plastics, were highlighted as having significant impacts.

"We realized that it took just more than just producing the figuring out the calculations” said Lai Ling Lee Rodriguez, Deputy Director General of External Affairs & Field Operations, Médecins Sans Frontières, Operational Centre of Geneva. “It took leadership, incorporating this into our operations, resource mobilization, and developing the skills and knowledge for our own staff."

It was also clear that the commitment of leadership and the allocation of resources are critical success factors for moving forward on a low carbon pathway.

"Don't underestimate the value of having a team. I can promise you that you can make a case that the team will pay for itself" said Chris Gormley, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer, National Health Service (NHS) England.

The session concluded with a call to embrace low carbon technologies and sustainable practices to drive systemic change.

Session 3: Financing

ATACH member representatives from various countries, philanthropies, multilateral banks and implementing organizations raised the critical issue of financing climate-health initiatives in the third session of ATACH Day. The need for strategic, sustainable financing to address climate and health challenges was discussed and the importance of redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to support adaptation initiatives was emphasised.

“We need to redirect money, quantify needs, and hold each other accountable" said Dr Naveen Rao, Senior Vice President of the Health Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation. 

Strategies for aligning funding mechanisms with climate and health goals were outlined, emphasizing the need for public-private partnerships, flexible funding models, and integrating health investments with broader development goals.

The panel discussed the need for scalable, coordinated investments to tackle climate-health challenges globally.

Speakers called for a coordinated mobilization of public, private, and philanthropic funds highlighting the urgency of increasing finance for climate and health.

Session 4: Maximizing Health Co-benefits: Linking Climate Action to Public Health Gains

This session explored the health gains of climate action and how to leverage these gains for more ambitious action. The importance of the integration of health and climate goals across sectors was highlighted.

"The time for diagnosis of our problem is over” said Prof Sir Andy Haines, Professor of Environmental Change and Public Health, Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Co-chair of Lancet Pathfinder Commission. “We need solutions. We need treatment, and it's urgent.”

WHO provided an overview of the new guidance launched at COP29: Quality criteria for integrating health in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which provides a practical framework for ensuring health is considered across all components of NDCs.

The potential for climate policies to enhance health outcomes while achieving sustainability goals was emphasized. Specific examples of nutrition, intersectoral collaboration, and leveraging data to create health co-benefits from climate actions were discussed.

"Climate solutions are health solutions, and investing in them is good for people, it's good for our healthcare sector, and it's good for business" said Sarah Boateng, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Session 5: Embedding Gender and Equity in Climate and Health Action

The final session explored inequities in the health impacts of climate change and how to address these in climate and health action.

"Climate change has a very high risk of making this world even more unequal" said Dr Gerry Eijkemans, Director, Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, Pan American Health Organization.

The speakers and panellists tackled a range of fundamental challenges and key considerations for gender and equity, including intersectionality, reframing ‘vulnerability’, disaggregation of data, the critical role of community health workers, and ensuring equitable access. The importance of involving young people in climate policy and action and the importance of recognizing the agency and resilience of affected communities were emphasized.

This session underscored the potential for climate action to reduce inequality, improve health, and protect the climate and the importance of inclusive and context-specific approaches with meaningful participation of those affected to address these challenges.

"The value of young people being in these spaces is that we are fighting for our future,” said Hailey Campbell, Care About Climate/NDC Equity Tracker, “but we're also fighting for the health of future generations to come after us."

Conclusion: closing remarks

ATACH Day concluded with a strong call to action, emphasizing the urgency of turning commitments into transformative actions.

"We have the tools, we have the leadership” said Andrea Connell, Deputy Director of International Affairs, Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare & Sport, Kingdom of the Netherlands. “Let's keep up the cooperation, speed up and scale up, and show that health climate action can be a catalyst for significant progress."

The event highlighted the importance of global solidarity, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to ensure health systems are equipped to face future climate challenges.

"I'd like to urge all countries that have not already done so to join ATACH and work together to build the future we want" said Saima Wazed, Director, Regional Office for South-East Asia, World Health Organization.

As the world grapples with impacts of climate change on health, ATACH continues to play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and driving progress towards a sustainable and equitable future.

The full programme and the recordings of the sessions can be found here.