News

During the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Glasgow in 2021, world leaders pledged to strengthen ambition towards collective climate action.  Between 14 and 16 February 2022, Kenya’s Ministry of Health, held a three-day workshop to develop a roadmap for achieving climate change action and health related commitments made by Kenya during COP26.

The workshop, held in Naivasha was supported by AFIDEP and AMREF – Kenya. It also benefited from the virtual technical input by representatives from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the government as well as non-governmental organizations with the aim of:

• Reflecting on the implications of commitments made during the COP 26.
• Mapping out stakeholders involved in climate change and health actions
• Developing a road map on implementation of the health commitments made at the COP 26
• Developing resource mobilization strategies for climate change and health interventions

During COP 26, which was held between 31 October and 12 November 2021, the Government of Kenya made climate change and health commitments that included:

1. Developing a health system that is resilient to the impacts of climate by:

• Conducting a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment by 30 June 2023
• Developing a health national adaptation plan informed by the health vulnerability and adaptation assessment starting 1 July 2023

2. Developing a health system that is sustainable with low carbon emissions by:

• Carrying out a baseline assessment of Green House Gasses (GHG) emissions of the health system and healthcare facilities
• Developing an action plan by 30 June 2023 and reaching net zero health sector emissions by 30 June 2030

Through the Making the Case for Planetary Health in Sub-Saharan Africa Project, AFIDEP hopes to build the evidence base for policy and programmes that address the health impacts of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over its implementation period (2021 – 2023), the project will forge institutional partnership with governments and other stakeholders and achieve cross-learning; expanding the cadre of diverse stakeholders engaged in climate change and health research and policy; and broadening access to relevant information and education.