The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, emphasises the need for coordinated action in order to complete the long-overdue journey.
The Budapest Declaration, which prioritises action on health issues like climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, was adopted by the WHO European Region countries.
The declaration places a strong emphasis on recovering from COVID-19 and places an emphasis on enhancing governance, making investments in human resources, and advancing knowledge and actionable tools.
Multiple medical emergencies are making the climate crisis a significant health and well-being problem in Europe and around the world. However, the Budapest Declaration and its commitments offer a strong opportunity to address this existential threat if cooperation, knowledge, and political will are applied.
The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, emphasises the need for coordinated action in order to complete the long-overdue journey.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s lessons are taken into account as countries commit to accelerating the transition to resilient, healthy, equitable, and sustainable societies in the Declaration.
Increased efforts are made to safeguard particularly vulnerable populations by preventing, preparing for, detecting, and responding to emergencies.
By taking these steps, the health systems’ resilience and ability to withstand and respond to emergencies will be improved. Additionally, more will be done to address the environmental factors that contribute to disease.
The “Roadmap for healthier people, a thriving planet, and a sustainable future 2023-2030” of the Declaration seeks to hasten the transformation of communities towards sustainability.
Additionally, it strengthens governance, human resources, financing, and knowledge while offering actions to lessen the negative effects on health caused by environmental pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
The Roadmap outlines the immediate needs in particular areas, lists commitments that countries can take into consideration, and offers recommendations for how to get there.
In order to hasten the implementation of the Ministerial Conference’s commitments and vision, the Declaration permits nations to establish European Environment and Health Process (EHP) Partnerships.
Countries and partners are brought together through partnerships for joint projects, capacity-building activities, training, workshops, technical assistance, innovation, research, and the dissemination of WHO guidelines. The 7MCEH saw a significant presence of young people, and the Budapest Declaration includes their call to action on climate and health as well as their voices and concerns.
The Budapest Declaration and the steps it outlines are a landmark accomplishment that couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Dr. Kluge. “We now need to make sure we keep the momentum from the 7MCEH, hold ourselves accountable, and keep the commitments we made to the young people in our Region in the ensuing months and years.”