The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam announced that Vietnam has joined the Transformative Action Alliance on Climate Change and Health (ATACH) to help the health system contribute to the country's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Vietnam has joined ATACH
The announcement was made today, November 17, at the Vietnam Health Partnership Conference held in Hanoi. At the conference, leaders of the Ministry of Health and health partners discussed climate change and health.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that with its special geographical location and natural conditions, Vietnam is one of the countries most severely affected by climate change. Data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shows that in recent years, extreme climate events have occurred with increasing intensity and frequency.
The Ministry of Health's participation in ATACH affirms Vietnam's desire to exchange and share with countries around the world and its commitment to implementing initiatives on climate change and health.
Globally, every health system is or will be affected by climate change: from extreme weather events that damage health facilities, to health services having to treat people suffering from diseases that are likely to increase due to climate impacts such as dengue fever, and patients suffering from respiratory diseases caused by air pollution.
According to Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, with the support of WHO, the Ministry of Health has piloted a model of health facilities that are adaptive, resilient to climate change and environmentally sustainable. Health facilities will play a very important role in achieving the goal of zero net emissions from the health sector.
Countries could reap huge health benefits by tackling the causes of climate change. WHO will support the Ministry of Health to develop a sectoral plan to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and waste. Globally, the health sector accounts for 4.6% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
WHO established ATACH to help countries meet the commitments made at the 2021 United Nations climate change conference (COP26).
ATACH provides a basis for coordinated action; exchange of knowledge and best practices; networking and access to support and linkages with existing initiatives; addressing common challenges and tracking global progress. Nearly 80 countries and territories have joined the alliance.
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