The Road to COP28 & Health Day | 12/2

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Deep dive: Road to COP28

It’s that time of the year again… COP! Conference of the Parties (COP) is a global gathering where representatives from almost every country part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet to discuss and negotiate international responses to climate change. This year is COP28, the 28th iteration of the gathering, and is being held in Dubai, UAE from Nov 30 - Dec 12. 

We’re going to bring you on the road for a two-part series: this week, orienting clinicians, technologists, and builders on events to watch out for at COP28; and in our next newsletter, rounding up climate health takeaways from COP28.

In particular, this COP28 is full of monumental firsts for Climate Health, two of which we’d like to highlight: 

Putting Health on the Climate Agenda: Health Day, Dec 3

For the first time ever, this year’s conference will feature health as a key theme with an official Health Day on Dec 3. This includes the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration on Climate and Health. The COP28 Presidency launched the Declaration as part of its commitment to make health a central element of the climate agenda, covering areas including cross-sector collaboration on climate and health, reducing emissions within the health sector, and increasing the amount and proportion of climate financing devoted to health.

The Health Day will be focusing on 5 key topics:

  1. Showcasing the evidence base and clear impact pathways between climate change and human health

  2. Promoting "health arguments for climate action" and health co-benefits of mitigation

  3. Highlighting needs, barriers, and best practices for strengthening climate resilience of health systems

  4. Identifying and scaling adaptation measures to address the impacts of climate change on human health (including through One Health)

  5. Taking action at the nexus of health and relief, recovery and peace
    (World Health Organization)

The WHO is presenting its initiative, the Alliance on Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), at COP28. This platform enables member states to voluntarily declare their strategies for enhancing the climate resilience and sustainability of health facilities. It offers access to technical support, quality assurance, and financing options for decarbonizing health systems. As of now, 78 countries have joined ATACH. With the healthcare sector responsible for approximately 5% of global emissions, the potential for more substantial commitments at COP28 is significant.

You can review the current Health Declaration here – a vital document we’re tracking closely. Additionally, we'll be monitoring the outcomes from the climate-health ministerial meeting, focusing on country-specific adoption and broader impacts on health and climate policy. Stay tuned!

Global Stocktake: Assessing Progress Since the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, established at  COP21 was a landmark international treaty committing all nations to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support for developing countries. The overarching  goal of the agreement is to limit global warming to “well below 2°C of warming, and ideally no more than 1.5°C.”

COP28 marks the completion of the first “Global Stocktake,” a five-yearly comprehensive review of global progress towards the Paris Agreement's targets. It’s the largest accountability mechanism for climate action in history, and spoiler: we’re not doing so well. 

The Synthesis Report, released in September 2023, highlighted the significant gap between current actions and the necessary steps to prevent global temperatures from exceeding the critical 1.5°C threshold within the next five years. It emphasizes the urgency of intensified action and provides a roadmap for governments to address the climate crisis

As the Global Stocktake concludes, we’re closely monitoring how countries leverage its insights to forge agreements and initiate concrete actions to meet the Paris Agreement's ambitious goals. 

Explore WHO's Climate Health Events at COP28

Discover the WHO's extensive list of over 100 climate health events at COP28, covering critical topics like the impact of climate change on mental and maternal health, building resilient health systems, and advancing climate-health financing. Access the full list and stream the climate and health ministerial event here.

Other news

  • BMJ published a study showing that 5.13 million global deaths annually are attributable to fossil fuel-related air pollution, highlighting the urgent need for transitioning to renewable energy sources. (BMJ)

  • The White House released the National Strategy to Advance an Integrated U.S. Greenhouse Gas Measurement, Monitoring, and Information System, to integrate U.S. greenhouse gas monitoring across federal agencies. (White House).

  • Op-ed on how improved medical coding can help quantify health consequences of climate change co-authored by CHILL team member Chethan Sarabu, MD. (MedPage Today)

  • Activists are urging leaders at COP28 to respond to climate change’s disproportionate impact on women and girls, especially where poverty makes them more vulnerable. (AP News)

  • Released in advance of COP 28, the eighth annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, read Drs. Robert Dubrow and Jodi Sherman’s from the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health five key findings from this year’s Lancet Countdown report. (Yale School of Public Health)

  • An American Psychological Association report showed impacts of climate change threaten children’s mental health starting before birth. (APA)

  • On Nov 30th Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine and OCCHE launched a  “catalytic program” to support healthcare providers and safety net organizations to take advantage of the tax credits, grants, and other supports made available by the IRA. (Watch OCCHE information session)

  • Microsoft announces new enhancements in its Cloud for Sustainability, expanding its data model to include carbon, water, and waste management, offering tools for organizations to improve their ESG. (Microsoft)

  • Scholars from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability discuss their hopes and expectations for international climate talks taking place this month in Dubai. (Stanford Sustainability)

Events & opportunities

  • Join Ministers of Health and senior delegates from over 100 countries at the first-ever climate and health ministerial at a UN climate conference. Livestream event, Dec 3 16:00-19:00 GST (Link)

  • NextEra Energy 2024 Seed Competition, NextEra Energy Investments, due Dec. 8 (Link)

  • ClimateHack Meetup, Zurich, Dec 11 (Link)

  • Apply now: Climate and Health Equity Fellowship with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, Application Due Dec 18 (Link)

  • The Climate Change and Health Research Coordinating Center (CAFÉ RCC) 1st Annual CAFÉ Climate & Health Conference, Feb 5-7 2024 (Link)

  • Lessons Learned from Community Translation Pilot Projects, Philadelphia Regional Center for Children's Environmental Health (Link)

  • Now open: Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program from EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Program  (Link)

  • Join now: Environmental Justice and Health Interest Group with the National Institutes of Health (Link)

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