Expectation for Climate and Health Financing Comes to the Fore at COP31

Prof. Dr. Emine Didem Evci Kiraz stated that they expect a climate and health support fund to be urgently established during the COP31 process in order to increase the resilience of developing countries against the health impacts of climate change.

Health Agenda Ahead of COP31

Prior to the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in November, dynamic and resilient health systems rank among the most important topics on the climate agenda.

Bringing Health to the Agenda

Prof. Dr. Emine Didem Evci Kiraz, a faculty member at Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health and a member of the Ministry of Health Climate Change and Health Science Board, described the failure to include health among the main agenda items until now as a significant deficiency.

Critical Importance of Adaptation Efforts

Emphasizing that climate change adaptation efforts are as critical as emission reduction in terms of protecting human health and preventing premature deaths, Kiraz stated that Turkey has designated health as its 10th agenda item within this scope.

Risks Faced by Hospitals

Drawing attention to the Lancet Countdown Group report, which indicates that one in every 12 hospitals globally is at risk of closure due to extreme weather events, the need for a health system unaffected by climate change was emphasized.

Support Fund and Adaptation Financing

It was noted that the urgent establishment of a climate and health support fund is the most fundamental topic and that adaptation financing is of vital importance.

Aging Population and Health Policies

It was stated that particularly those entering older ages should be educated against climate change, and adaptation policies and climate-resilient healthy aging policies tailored to the aging population should be developed.