Your Excellency former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga,
Dr Ismail Serageldin,
Secretary General Rovshan Muradov,
Our moderator, Your Excellency former Prime Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija [Zlat-ko La-goom-jee-ya ],
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
It is an honour to have the opportunity to address you at this COP29 advisory meeting, and I thank NGIC for the invitation.
The climate crisis is a health crisis.
And it’s not a hypothetical crisis in the future. It’s right here and right now.
Climate-related humanitarian emergencies are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity, with devastating impacts for health.
The same emissions that are killing our planet are killing people.
This year there have been devastating floods in Brazil, record heatwaves across Mexico, and millions of people have been affected by extreme heat in Asia.
Each year, air pollution contributes to over seven million premature deaths - that is one out of eight deaths globally.
Rising seas are edging closer to submerging some countries.
Food insecurity is rising, forcing people to make impossible choices between their next meal and health care.
And climate change is fuelling the spread of diseases like cholera, dengue and malaria.
All of this makes health one of the strongest arguments for taking immediate action.
The health gains from climate mitigation and adaptation easily outweigh the costs.
They are a compelling argument for strong climate action.
Climate action could save millions of lives each year and generate a return of over four US dollars for every one dollar spent.
These actions include protecting vulnerable people from the health impacts of heatwaves, investing in renewable energy for health facilities, and removing subsidies for polluting fuels.
And yet for too long, health has been a footnote in climate discussions.
COP28 in the UAE was a turning point, with an entire day of the programme dedicated to health for the first time. Almost 150 countries signed the ministerial declaration on climate and health.
WHO and the global health community also played a part in keeping a commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement.
I’m very pleased to note that health will once again feature prominently in the COP29 agenda, with a thematic day dedicated to health, human capital, jobs, education, children and youth.
At the Bonn Climate Conference this week, the COP29 Presidency has announced 14 Action Initiatives for COP29.
I’m very pleased to see that many of these initiatives have a health focus.
And even those that aren’t specifically health-focused will bring tangible benefits for human health.
Initiatives such as those on urban planning, waste and agriculture can save hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
Cooperation and coordination among partners are key for achieving a greater global commitment to a healthier, more sustainable and more resilient future.
As part of the COP29 UN Taskforce, WHO is working closely with the Azerbaijani team on these Action initiatives.
Addressing the health impacts of climate change is key part of WHO’s global strategy for the next four years, which our Member States approved at the World Health Assembly two weeks ago.
They also adopted a resolution on climate change and health, committing to a range of actions on mitigation and adaption.
In March next year, we will hold the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Colombia, bringing together global leaders and experts to focus on concrete solutions to improve air quality, mitigate climate change and protect public health.
Another powerful vehicle for Member States to take action is through the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health, or ATACH.
ATACH is an initiative of COP26, and works to build climate resilient and zero-carbon sustainable health systems.
Globally, health systems are already facing the strain of increased illness, injury and deaths from climate change, and will need to be able to withstand increasingly extreme weather events.
Building more climate-resilient health systems means investing in health and care workers to meet the increasing demands the climate crisis is placing on health systems.
At the same time, the health sector is responsible for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is why WHO is also supporting countries to build more climate-friendly health systems – by increasing their use of renewable energy sources, for example.
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Let me leave you with two requests.
First, we seek your support to ensure health has a prominent place in the COP29 agenda, as the most compelling reason for climate action;
And second, we seek your support to encourage all countries to engage with ATACH to build more climate-resilient and climate-friendly health systems.
Thank you all once again for the invitation to address you today, and for your ongoing support for WHO and global health.
I look forward to a fruitful discussion.
I thank you.