Zubair Qureshi
Experts at a seminar titled “Climate Change and Health System Resilience” called for concerted efforts from the public and private sector to develop resilience in the healthcare sector against climate change.
The seminar was organized on Thursday by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
DrShafqatMunir, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI, stressed the need for presenting bankable climate adaptation projects and secure climate financing through rigorous negotiations and workable targets.
He stressed that financing was the need to develop climate resilience in health and other sectors which can be met through national and international financial institutions. However, the demand for financing must be complimented with substantial efforts in greenhouse gas emission reduction, he said.
He emphasized on including fossil fuel phase-out as an essential component in developing the resilience of the healthcare system considering the significant burden imposed due to fossil fuel pollution.
He highlighted that fossil fuel burning causes respiratory and cardiac diseases in adults, developmental challenges and mortality among young children.
DrZafarFatmi, Professor and Head, Section of Environmental Health & Climate Change Aga Khan University, highlighted that during the response and resilience policy development process, the government does not effectively take on-board essential stakeholders including the private healthcare sector.
This leaves a huge gap in the response to climate change leading to duplication of efforts in some areas while some areas are ignored. He apprised the audience that AKU has committed to achieve net zero by 2030 for which they are targeting emission reduction from supply chain, reduce waste and adopt green alternatives to medicines with high greenhouse gas footprint like asthma inhalers.
He encouraged healthcare institutions to adopt similar policies to reduce their carbon footprint.
