Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
Aayushi Sharma
On Sunday, India declined to sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health. One of the document’s recommendations, which is to reduce greenhouse gas use for cooling in the healthcare industry, might not be feasible given the current state of India’s healthcare system.
Why has India refrained from signing this declaration?
The World Health Organisation, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, the COP28 Presidency, and India all had a ministerial on Sunday, however, India did not send a team to participate in Health Day.
India has voiced concerns that its ability to provide the rising demand for medical care, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas, may be hampered by the decrease of greenhouse gas emissions for cooling in the health sector. As of now, 124 nations have signed the declaration; the US and India, two of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, are not on the list of signatories.
The Secretary of the Union Environment Ministry, Leena Nandan said, “We need cold storage for storing vaccines and medicines and these are linked to making our healthcare systems resilient.” However, suggestions that using these are contributing to climate emissions and that we must choose some fuels over the other are not acceptable, she added.
What is the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health about?
According to the declaration, “benefits for health from deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including from just transitions, lower air pollution, active mobility, and shifts to sustainable healthy diets” can be attained through taking climate action. The proclamation expressed serious concern about the detrimental effects of climate change on health on the occasion of the first Health Day at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) on Sunday.
The COP28 Declaration mainly highlights the importance of handling the broad spectrum of impacts that climate change has on health. This involves taking into account issues related to mental health and psychological well-being, protecting livelihoods and cultures, preserving traditional medical knowledge, and managing migration and displacement brought on by climate change. The proclamation seeks to provide a comprehensive strategy for comprehending and reducing the various health risks that climate change poses.
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