This joint side event is organized by WHO, World Bank, and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) in the framework of the Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA).
Around one third of the population worldwide still rely on polluting fuels and technology combinations to meet their basic daily energy needs for cooking. The resulting household air pollution leads to 3.2 million premature deaths each year from noncommunicable disease and pneumonia and is the largest source of black carbon, responsible for around half of black carbon emissions globally.
In addition to that, close to a billion people globally are served by health facilities without reliable electricity, limiting access to essential and lifesaving medical devices and dramatically hampering the quality, accessibility and reliability of health services delivered. As of October 2022 just 29% of Africa’s population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. This along with limited access to cooling in health facilities in especially Sub-Saharan Africa, reliable cold chains are integral to improving health sector infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Moreover, the health sector overall is responsible for 4.4% of global carbon emissions.
To tackle these global issues, the global Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA) aims to ensure universal access to clean and sustainable energy to protect public health and to mitigate the effects of climate change.
HEPA aims to catalyse the scale of results required to achieve SDG 3 on health and SDG 7 on energy by:
- mobilising political commitment
- promoting the development of global or country implementation roadmaps
- demonstrating leadership
- conducting advocacy and outreach at high-level international engagements
- promoting an interdisciplinary approach and bringing together actors from the health and energy sectors
Description
This joint side event will showcase concrete actions, projects and programmes, HEPA partners are implementing on the ground to accelerate energy access in health-care facilities including the deployment of cold chains and improving clean household energy within the most vulnerable communities.
A variety of HEPA partners working on health and energy issues have committed to accelerate action in these areas and will share practical experience in various countries and regions. Furthermore, speakers will highlight examples on how to tackle issues linked to health-care facilities and household energy and show how governments, Ministries, other decision makers and stakeholders can be supported sustainably and successfully.
Structure of the Session
Opening Remarks
Dr Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate Change & Health, WHO
Mr. Raihan Elahi, Lead Energy Specialist, World Bank
Presentations on Clean Cooking
Ms Heather Adair-Rohani, Technical Lead on Energy & Health & Head of Air Quality and Health, WHO
Mr Ed Brown, Research Director, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS)
Panel on Clean Cooking
Moderation: Ms Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA)
Dr. Edson Uamusse, Head of Division of Planning and Studies of the National Energy Fund (FUNAE), Mozambique
Mr Faustin Munyazikwiye, Director of Climate Change Department, REMA, Rwanda (tbc)
Mr Stig Traavik, Director Climate and Environment, NORAD
Mr Brama Kone, Technical Officer, Climate Change and Health, WHO AFRO
Mr Ed Brown, Research Director, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS)
Closing
UNDP (tbc)
Panel on Health-Care Facility Electrification
Moderation: Dr Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate Change & Health, WHO
Mr George Gantor, Deputy Minister of Energy, Liberia
Mr Gautam Narasimhan, Global Lead – Climate, Energy and Environment, UNICEF
Mr Alex Dejonquieres, Director of Health Sector Strengthening, Gavi (Virtual)
Mr Ochirbat Batbayar, Advisor to Minister of Health, Mongolia (Virtual)
Closing Remarks
Dr Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate Change & Health, WHO
Mr Alberto Rodriquez, Director, Strategy and Operations, World Bank Human Development
The session will be livestreamed here