UK, WHO launch climate change platform to support COP26 goals

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - The UK and World Health Organization on Monday launched a new health and climate change platform to help countries realize pledges made at last year's UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate Change and Health (ATACH) held its first meeting on Monday in its quest to achieve a resilient and low carbon, sustainable health systems.

"This new alliance is intended to sustain the momentum and advance action on climate change and health at country level, to help countries bridge the gap between commitments and implementation as a first priority," said Maria Neira, director of the WHO's environment climate change and health department.

The announcement came amid reports that France is likely to restart coal-fired power plants to cope with the energy crisis fueled by the Russia-Ukraine war, as is Germany.

The alliance will act as a platform to bring together government institutions that have signed on to the COP26 Health Program during the conference that ended in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov 13.

ATACH will also assemble relevant partner organizations to coordinate efforts, exchange knowledge and best practices, build networks and access to technical and financial support.

It will also link up existing initiatives, tackle common challenges, and monitor global progress.

Currently, 60 countries at the health minister level have committed to at least one of the initiatives on climate-resilient and low carbon sustainable health systems promoted under the COP26 Health Program.

"Resilient healthcare systems are absolutely crucial to successful adaptation to climate change in any scenario, while also playing an essential role in low-carbon sustainable development and greening supply chains," Neira said.

She said the health sector is ready to lead by example, and the main aim of the alliance is to drive and sustain progress and ambition on resilient and low carbon health systems.