UAE reiterates commitment to developing climate-resilient health sector

UAE reiterates commitment to developing climate-resilient health sector

GLASGOW - The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Health and Prevention, in cooperation with Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, today reiterated that the country is dedicated to developing a health system resilient to the impacts of climate change. The announcement comes in advance of the 2021 Global Conference on Health & Climate Change, being organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Climate and Health Alliance and other partners, and on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, UK, in November. It responds to the call from the COP26 Presidency, currently held by the United Kingdom, to adopt initiatives towards building an environmentally sustainable health sector. The announcement draws on the critical steps being taken by the UAE on climate and health. It also follows the nation’s offer to host COP28 in 2023 with a focus on making it as inclusive and action-oriented as possible. The nation adopts a holistic approach towards climate action and aims to help create a robust ecosystem that interlinks all key sectors, including healthcare, given the importance of climate on human wellness. In 2019, the UAE undertook a national climate risk assessment for the health sector as well as