Mobilising communities for environmental action and Universal Health Coverage: Building resilient health and environment partnerships
As negotiations at the Conference of Parties (COP 28), the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) come to an end, join us as we reflect on whether the conference created an enabling environment for inclusive participation and decision making, and how such fora can meaningfully engage and mobilise communities. Examples will be drawn from the NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Environmental Change, which has just entered its second year.
Time: 06:00-07:00 GMT/11:30-12:30 IST/13:00 to 14:00 WIB/14:00-15:00 CST/17:00-18:00 AEST
Date: 11th December 2023
Format: Online
The impact of climate change on health is far-reaching, complex, and intertwined with myriad social and environmental factors. Climate change undermines our overall progress including towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and significantly impacts the physical and mental health of communities worldwide. It has special significance for future generations who will bear the greatest burden of environmentally mediated health detriment.
Acknowledging the important role of the health sector in mobilising local communities as communicators, agents of change, and advocates, this discussion event will explore the critical nexus of UHC, climate change, and community mobilisation. Communities hold valuable indigenous knowledge of the environment and ecosystem, including solutions on mitigation and adaptation that have been passed down through generations. By supporting and preserving this cultural heritage, we can enable communities to draw on this knowledge and incorporate it into sustainable solutions.
Ahead of UHC Day 2023, our panellists, experts in public health, climate change, and community empowerment, will emphasise action-oriented steps for community mobilisation, including with children and youth as key stakeholders that must be involved in “designing and implementing climate policies” to advance progress towards UHC.
This event is taking place during the NIHR Global Health Centre for Environmental Change and NCDs annual symposium, where partners and collaborators will meet in Indonesia to engage in dialogue and reflect on the progress of the Centre including planned activities for the year ahead and participate in a series of capacity strengthening activities.
Speakers
Chair: Christopher Millett
Christopher Millett, Professor of Public Health, Imperial College London, Co-lead, NIHR Global Health Research Centre for NCDs and Environmental Change
Katja Cic
Katja Cic, Programme Director, International Youth Health Organization and co-chair of the Climate Change and Health Working Group, WHO Youth Council
Kristine Belesova
Kristine Belesova, Senior Lecturer in Global Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London
Shweta Narayan
Shweta Narayan, Global Climate and Health Campaigner, Healthcare Without Harm
Susan Onyango
Susan Onyango, Director/CEO, Nutricare Family Centre, Kenya and winner of WHO NCD Lab, Women and Girls (2022)
