Supporting green, climate resilient, health systems
Climate resilience and health system decarbonisation are often considered as separate and different. But as climate effects accelerate, we should green our health systems while simultaneously preparing for the health impacts of the more turbulent world that we will live in.
A whole-system approach to our use of chemicals, energy, water, sanitation and wastewater, health system waste, food, and air quality is necessary.
Created after COP26, the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) works with currently 76 countries committed to decarbonising their health systems and seeking climate resilience. The Nossal Institute has joined the ATACH community to listen and learn from the experience of others such as NHS England, the Ministry of Health Lao PDR, World Bank, and Healthcare Without Harm on how to turn political commitments into action.
Nossal Institute is using a health systems lens to support the evolution of climate resilient and low carbon sustainable health systems in our region. We collaborate with regional partners and global networks to understand the impact of climate change on the health and wellbeing of people in our region and drive forward the COP26 commitments for the benefit of low-income settings in the Asia-Pacific. For instance, Dr Reihana Mohideen, Principal Advisor, Social Implications of Technology (Infrastructure), is currently conducting assessments and capacity development programs in South Asia. Her research is focusing on climate change, the low-carbon energy transition and health vulnerability and adaptation resilience.
We are excited to bring our interdisciplinary strengths and regional experience to support ATACH in building climate resilient and low carbon health systems for our near and distant future.
Dr Gillian Lê is a Nossal Institute for Global Health Honorary. She specialises in health system financing and is currently leading on verification work in performance-based donor finance project in Cambodia and Lao PDR.