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It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this consultation workshop, hosted by the Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNICEF.
We are here today because of one simple truth: climate change is a health issue. In fact according to WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros, climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.
Climate change is already profoundly affecting health in a range of ways: extreme weather events, extreme heat, increasing severity and frequency of outbreaks of climate-sensitive disease such as dengue, and of course, the carbon emissions which are changing the climate are also polluting the air we breathe. Viet Nam is at the frontline of these challenges, as one of the countries most exposed to climate change and its health impacts.
Recognizing the links between climate change and health requires ensuring that health is meaningfully reflected in climate commitments – including the Nationally Determined Contributions (or NDCs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. So it is brilliant to have all of you here with us today, to discuss how we advance the integration of health into the next NDC for Viet Nam.
I would especially like to welcome the leaders and health-care staff from three hospitals in from Bac Ha (Lao Cai province), Yen Thanh (Nghe An province) and Cu Lao Minh (formerly Ben Tre, now Vinh Long province) which are participating in the Ministry of Health’s programme to strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability — a programme that WHO is proud to support, with the generous support of the Australian Government.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting each of these hospitals and meeting both staff and patients, and it has been inspiring to hear how simple, practical changes can make a big difference in your ability to serve your communities safely — despite the growing challenges of a changing climate.
The stories of how climate change is affecting health-care facilities like those in Bac Ha, Yen Thanh and Lu Cao Minh also makes profoundly clear the link between climate and health – and the importance of national, regional and global strategies which support both adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change’s health impacts.
At the national level, Viet Nam is already demonstrating strong leadership and commitment, through the development of:
- the National Adaptation Plan,
- the Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, and
- the National Action Plan for the Health Sector Response to Climate Change.
Viet Nam is also playing an increasingly important role in regional and global efforts, as a very active member (and regional representative) of WHO’s Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).
Just last week, Viet Nam had a very strong presence in the WHO Western Pacific Region’s inaugural Action Forum on climate resilient health systems in Singapore.
At COP28 in Dubai, Viet Nam played a leading role in the first-ever Health Day — a milestone that underscored the importance of integrating health into climate policy. And at this year’s Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brazil, Viet Nam showcased its work on decarbonizing health care and building climate-resilient systems – demonstrating to other countries what leadership on tackling the health impacts of climate change looks like.
Strong national climate goals will clearly deliver major health benefits: cleaner air, a reduced burden of both noncommunicable and climate-sensitive infectious diseases, and a health system better prepared for typhoons, floods, droughts and heatwaves. Better health also delivers economic benefits, through better workforce participation and productivity.
It’s for all of these reasons that WHO is immensely proud – and excited – to work with our UN agency colleagues and other partners to support Viet Nam’s integration of health into its third NDC.
Because NDCs are not just climate tools; they are essential instruments for protecting people’s health in the face of climate change, as well as mechanisms to bring together different sectors and stakeholders (including donors) to address climate change.
Viet Nam’s current NDC already acknowledges the health risks of climate change and the vulnerability of certain population groups. But there are clear opportunities to go further, and to align even more closely with:
- global climate-health commitments,
- the Paris Agreement, and
- Viet Nam’s own social and economic development goals – including the role that the health sector can play in delivering on Viet Nam’s ambitious net zero by 2050 commitment.
So let me close by saying again how happy we are to have you all here today, and by reaffirming WHO’s strong and ongoing support as Viet Nam builds a climate-resilient, low-carbon health system — one that protects health, reduces emissions and supports sustainable development.
I look forward to today’s discussions as we work together to build a safer, healthier future for everyone in Viet Nam.
Xin cảm ơn.