Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has commended the UAE for its initiative to dedicate a day at COP28 to highlight the critical intersection between climate change and health.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28, Sands said, ‘I congratulate the UAE on its successful hosting of the event and I emphasise that placing health at the heart of climate change is a historic and commendable step that recognises health as an essential element of the climate change agenda.’

He added, ‘This is the first time in the history of the Conference of the Parties that a day for health has been included in the conference, which confirms the leadership of the United Arab Emirates in drawing the attention of the world to the negative impact of climate change on health. Establishing health as an essential element of the climate conference is a long overdue step.’

He noted that the UAE is listening to the voices of millions of people in low
– and middle-income countries that are already suffering from the effects of climate change through extreme weather conditions and the increased range and spread of infectious diseases.

He pointed out that investing in the link between health and climate requires urgent action on different fronts, including preventive interventions to reduce the threat posed by the most climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, as well as improving health systems to enable them to withstand climate change, in addition to reducing carbon emissions in health facilities and supply chains.

Source: Emirates News Agency