Ha Noi, 17 November 2023.
The Viet Nam Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Viet Nam had joined the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health to help the health system contribute to the country’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
WHO established the Alliance to help countries deliver on commitments they made at United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) on climate change and health.
The announcement comes ahead of COP28 and on the day of Viet Nam’s Health Partnership Meeting, where senior Ministry of Health officials and health partners, brought together by WHO, discuss climate change and health.
Vice Minister of Health, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said, “With its geographical location and unique natural conditions, Viet Nam is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shows that in recent years, extreme climate events have occurred with greater intensity and frequency.
“The Ministry of Health has joined the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health to demonstrate Viet Nam's desire to exchange and share with other countries around the world and commit to climate change and health initiatives,” Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said.
Globally, every health system is – or will be – affected by climate change: from extreme weather events damaging health facilities and causing injuries, to health services treating more people with climate-sensitive diseases such as dengue, to patients with respiratory symptoms caused by polluted air.
WHO Viet Nam Representative Dr Angela Pratt said, “Around the world we have seen that it takes high-level, national leadership to transform health systems to become climate-resilient and sustainable. So, WHO congratulates Viet Nam for joining the Alliance, which will help the country achieve its emissions goals and protect people’s health in an unstable and changing climate.
“Viet Nam is to be commended for the strong action it is already taking on climate change and health. For example, the Ministry of Health, with WHO’s support, has been piloting models for climate change resilient and environmentally sustainable health-care facilities. This work recognises that health-care facilities will be important for achieving the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from the health sector,” Dr Pratt said.
WHO Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health Dr Maria Neira said, “I congratulate Viet Nam for being one of the members of the Alliance. We are gaining from your experience and hopefully you will be gaining from the global experience that we are bringing together for resilient, low-carbon communities and health systems.
“The positive message is very clear: if you tackle the causes of climate change, you can obtain enormous health benefits.”
WHO will also be supporting the Ministry to develop a health sector plan for reducing its own carbon emissions and environmental footprint. Globally, the health sector accounts for 4.6% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
The Alliance, also known as ATACH, provides a platform for coordination; knowledge and best practice exchange; networks and access to support and link up to existing initiatives; tackling common challenges; and monitoring global progress. So far, nearly 80 countries and areas have joined.
COP28 will take place from 30 November to 12 December. For the first time, the COP will prioritize the need for an ambitious response to the impacts of climate change on public health. This will include the first-ever Health Day at a COP, a dedicated health and climate ministerial meeting, and a ministerial declaration on climate and health.