inaugural meeting of the technical advisory group on

23–25 June 2020Virtual meeting conducted from

Suva, Fiji – Seoul, Republic of Korea – Manila, the Philippines

Meeting Report

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE,

THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTHIN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC

RS/2020/GE/24(Virtual) English only

MEETING REPORT

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP

ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION

Convened by:

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION


Virtual meeting conducted from

Suva, Fiji – Seoul, Republic of Korea – Manila, the Philippines

23–25 June 2020

Not for sale

Printed and distributed by:

World Health Organization

Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Manila, Philippines

August 2020

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NOTE

The views expressed in this report are those of the participants of the Inaugural Meeting of the Technical

Advisory Group on Climate Change, the Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region and do not

necessarily reflect the policies of the conveners.

This report has been prepared by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

for Member States in the Region and for those who participated in the Inaugural Meeting of the Technical

Advisory Group on Climate Change, the Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region, held

virtually from 23 to 25 June 2020.

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CONTENTS

SUMMARY 4

1. INTRODUCTION 6

1.1 Meeting organization 6

1.2 Meeting objectives 6

2. PROCEEDINGS 7

Day 1 7

2.1 Opening session 7

2.2 Session 2: Meeting Objectives and Background Presentation on CCE 8

2.3 Session 3: Question and Answer and plenary discussion on the CCE Thematic Priority,

the Four Pillars, the Platform, and the TAG 8

Day 2 11

2.4 Session 4: Group Work 11

Day 3 11

2.5 Session 5: Group report back 12

2.6 Session 6: Open Question and Answer on the group presentations 13

2.7 Session 7: Practical way forward - establishing pillar groups and agreeing next steps 15

2.8 Session 8: Closing Session 16

3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 18

3.1 Conclusions 18

3.2 Recommendations 19

3.2.1 Recommendations for the CCE TAG 19

3.2.2 Recommendations for WHO 20

ANNEXES 21

ANNEX 1: List of Participants 21

ANNEX 2: Meeting programme 34

ANNEX 3: Meeting programme for Europe-based participants 38

KEYWORDS: Climate change / Environmental health / Regional health planning / Strategic planning

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SUMMARY

In October 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

endorsed For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region (RC70/INF/1), which outlines the

vision for the Organization's work for the coming years. Climate change, the environment and health is

highlighted in the information document as a thematic priority. The Technical Advisory Group on Climate

Change, the Environment and Health (CCE TAG) was set up to advise WHO and Member States in the

Western Pacific Region on the strategic direction in the implementation of the For the Future vision. The

overall goal of the thematic priority is to ensure that countries and communities have the capacity to

anticipate and respond to a changing environment and climate.

The implementation of this thematic priority rests on four pillars: (1) providing advocacy (raising the profile

of the CCE agenda by building new narratives and articulating health co-benefits of actions and policies

from non-health sectors); (2) building resilience into health systems (to withstand the impacts of climate

change and environmental threats); (3) monitoring the impact of climate change and the environment on

health (to provide timely, accurate and strategic information to inform decision-making, guide advocacy,

drive action, and track impacts and success of interventions); and (4) applying a climate change and

environment lens to our work (where all WHO staff in the Region understand the health impacts and act as

agents of change, making their contribution towards achieving the healthiest and safest region).

The Inaugural Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Climate Change, the Environment and Health

in the Western Pacific Region was held virtually from 23 to 25 June 2020. It was attended by 16 newly

appointed TAG members and 17 representatives and observers from six countries (Cook Islands, Fiji,

Kiribati, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia and the Philippines) that have prioritized climate

change, the environment and health in their programme of work with WHO. Country representatives

included senior officials from the health ministries as well as ministries responsible for climate change and

the environment.

The virtual inaugural meeting provided a forum for TAG members and country participants to discuss and

identify desirable future scenarios for climate change, the environment and health for each of the four

pillars, as well as mechanisms and partners. A way forward was also agreed to ensure a continuum of work

for the CCE TAG.

Objectives


in the Western Pacific Region was held virtually from 23 to 25 June 2020. The overall objective of this

meeting was to identify a desirable future for climate change, the environment and health that can be

achieved by 2024 (overall and by pillar).

The specific objectives of the meeting were to:

▪ explore possible and achievable future scenarios for climate change, the environment and health

that can be achieved by 2024;

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▪ agree on a desirable future for climate change, the environment and health that can be achieved by

2024 (overall and for each of the CCE four pillars);

▪ identify mechanisms and partners that may be needed to achieve the desirable 2024 future; and

▪ establish and launch an engaged and inspired TAG to drive us forward into the future we desire.

Conclusions

▪ The virtual inaugural meeting provided a forum for TAG members and country participants to

discuss and identify elements of the desirable future for climate change, the environment and

health, as well as ideas of mechanisms and potential partners that need to be engaged.

▪ To continue the work on the thematic priority, TAG members agreed to establish pillar working

groups and to develop strategic priorities and practical high-level actions to achieve the desirable

2024 future.

Recommendations for the CCE TAG

The TAG members are encouraged to consider the following:

(1) Meet regularly, leveraging their different expertise and making concrete contributions to each of

the four pillars by developing a plan of work for each pillar group.

(2) Identify 2–3 strategic priorities for each pillar and develop practical high-level actions under each

strategic priority by mid-September 2020 (prior to the Regional Committee session in October).

(3) Bring the TAG discussions in 2021 to key meetings, for example, the Pacific Heads of Health

meeting in April, the World Health Assembly in May, the 14th Pacific Health Ministers Meeting

and the WHO Regional Committee.

Advocate for a better understanding of climate change and the environment as a central health issue

towards achieving the global goal of “leaving no one behind” and the needs of future generations.

Recommendations for WHO

WHO is requested to consider the following:

(1) Support the TAG in developing their plan of work.

(2) Set up a platform for climate change, the environment and health, with the CCE TAG at the centre,

linking regional champions, WHO collaborating centres, other TAGs, and WHO regional and

country offices.

(3) Support building resilient health systems by increasing action in access to water, sanitation and

hygiene, or WASH, in health-care facilities.

(4) Advocate in countries and with international agencies to increase the health sector presence in the

meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change parties.

(5) Work with other WHO programmes to address climate change and environmental health issues.

(6) Strengthen work with other sectors to highlight the health co-benefits of interventions outside

health.

(7) Assess data needs and data analysis capacity in countries for effective monitoring of impacts and

interventions.

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(8) Promote WHO as a leader in sustainability by continuing the practice of virtual meetings, reduced

travel and reduced commuting time.

(9) Provide ongoing support to the CCE TAG.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Meeting organization

In October 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

endorsed For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region (RC70/INF/1), which outlines the

vision for the Organization's work for the coming years. Climate change, the environment and health is

highlighted in the information document as a thematic priority. The Technical Advisory Group on Climate

Change, the Environment and Health (CCE TAG) was set up to advise WHO and Member States in the

Western Pacific Region on the strategic direction in the implementation of the For the Future vision. The

overall goal of the thematic priority is to ensure that countries and communities have the capacity to

anticipate and respond to a changing environment and climate.

The implementation of this thematic priority rests on four pillars: (1) providing advocacy (raising the profile

of the CCE agenda by building new narratives and articulating health co-benefits of actions and policies

from non-health sectors); (2) building resilience into health systems (to withstand the impacts of climate

change and environmental threats); (3) monitoring the impact of climate change and the environment on

health (to provide timely, accurate and strategic information to inform decision-making, guide advocacy,

drive action, and track impacts and success of interventions); and (4) applying a climate change and

environment lens to our work (where all WHO staff in the Region understand the health impacts and act as

agents of change, making their contribution towards achieving the healthiest and safest region).


in the Western Pacific Region was held virtually from 23 to 25 June 2020. It was attended by 16 newly

appointed TAG members and 17 representatives and observers from six countries (Cook Islands, Fiji,

Kiribati, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia and the Philippines) that have prioritized climate

change, the environment and health in their programme of work with WHO. Country representatives

included senior officials from the health ministries as well as ministries responsible for climate change and

the environment.

The meeting provided a forum for TAG members and country representatives to discuss and identify

desirable future scenarios for climate change, the environment and health for each of the four pillars, as

well as mechanisms and partners. A way forward was also agreed to ensure a continuum of work for the

CCE TAG.

Due to time zone restrictions, a separate meeting with recorded and live sessions was facilitated by the

WHO Secretariat for CCE TAG members in Europe. The list of participants is in Annex 1, and the meeting

programmes are in Annexes 2 and 3.

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1.2 Meeting objectives

The overall objective of this meeting was to identify a desirable future for climate change, the environment

and health that can be achieved by 2024 (overall and by pillar).

The specific objectives of the meeting were to:

(1) explore possible and achievable future scenarios for climate change, the environment and health

that can be achieved by 2024;

(2) agree on a desirable future for climate change, the environment and health that can be achieved by

2024 (overall and for each of the CCE four pillars);

(3) identify mechanisms and partners that may be needed to achieve the desirable 2024 future; and

(4) establish and launch an engaged and inspired TAG to drive us forward into the future we desire.

2. PROCEEDINGS

Day 1

2.1 Opening session

Dr Corinne Capuano, WHO Representative for the South Pacific, provided welcome remarks and

introduced the 16 participating CCE TAG members and country participants.

Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, gave an opening address and provided

context for the meeting.

The Western Pacific Region is experiencing a new normal as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is

providing challenges and opportunities for new ways of working. The Region is highly diverse and has

been changing rapidly in terms of the economy, ways of living and mindsets. This implies that we need to

think ahead, or be ahead of the curve, to create the future we want. A new agenda was developed following

a year of discussions, focussing on four thematic priorities: (1) health security, including preparing for

influenza pandemics; (2) noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and ageing;

(3) environmental health and the health impacts of climate change; and (4) reaching the unreached, in places

where we must strengthen immunizations, maternal and child health, TB programmes, and where we also

observe environmental issues. COVID-19 was a wake-up call to prepare for the future.

Climate change threatens the very existence of some Pacific island countries and areas and brings serious

health risks to all countries in the Region in the form of extreme weather events, waterborne and foodborne

diseases, malnutrition, vector-borne diseases, and mental health problems resulting from these events.

Additional threats to the Region come from air, soil and water pollution. The outdoor air pollution alone is

responsible for about 1 million deaths per year, and an even higher number of deaths are the result of indoor

air pollution. The overall burden of disease of environmental risks in the Region is about 25%.

In 2019, WHO established the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health (ACE), with the support of

the Republic of Korea and the city of Seoul. ACE will provide countries with policy advice and lead

research on priority topics. The Division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva was tasked with hosting a

Climate Change, the Environment and Health Platform (CCE Platform), and at the centre of this platform

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is the CCE TAG. TAG members will provide their vision of a future that can be achieved and will meet

once a year to review how the long-term vision and programme implementation is advancing.

Dr Marco Martuzzi, ACE Director, introduced the Honourable Minister of the Environment, Mr Cho

Myung-rae, and the Mayor of Seoul, Mr Park Won-Soon. Climate change brings health and socioeconomic,

burdens to communities, amplifying inequalities between and within countries. Small Island Developing

States, or SIDS, are particularly vulnerable. These climate justice-related issues call for identifying the

health impacts and finding and sharing best practices and policies to protect health. There is an urgency to

act swiftly and decisively, and the CCE TAG is a key driver for action.

On behalf of the Regional Director, Dr Capuano announced Professor Yun-Chul Hong from the Republic

of Korea as chair of the TAG and Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji as vice-chair.

2.2 Session 2: Meeting objectives and background presentation on CCE

Professor Hong addressed the meeting as chair and explained the tasks ahead that would help them identify

a desirable and achievable future. Dr Hai-Rim Shin, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and

Population, presented the meeting objectives and agenda. The objectives are listed under section 1.2, and

the agenda is in Annex 2.

Dr Liu Yunguo, Director of the Division of Programme Management, presented on For the Future:

Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region, which articulates a vision of acting today to address the

challenges of tomorrow, with the goal of making WHO’s Western Pacific Region the healthiest and safest

region. For the Future was the result of wide consultation, resulting in a shared vision developed by and

for countries, not just WHO.

Dr Yunguo presented an overview of the vision’s four thematic priorities, beginning with climate change,

the environment and health. For Pacific island countries and areas, climate change threatens their very

existence. Many other countries and areas in the Region are affected by environmental risks associated with

rapid economic development, such as the health impacts of severe air pollution and environmental

degradation. The vision is a Region well prepared to face a changing climate and environment, in which

the health sector will emerge as a strong force for preserving the planet. Regarding health security, including

antimicrobial resistance (AMR), COVID-19 has shown that if any country is vulnerable, every country is

at risk. The vision is a Region where countries have strong and resilient health systems, and close

collaboration across sectors, so that everyone is safe during outbreaks and natural disasters and protected

from the risks of AMR and unsafe food. Regarding NCDs and ageing, people are growing older with

multiple chronic conditions. The vision is a Region where NCDs are prevented and where mental health

and well-being is promoted, where social determinants are addressed, and where health and social services

accompany people and support them to live long, healthy and productive lives. Regarding reaching the

unreached, the challenge is to implement new approaches among those unreached by essential services.

The vision is a Region where everyone is reached with lifesaving interventions and protected from

infectious diseases.

For the Future proposes seven operational shifts, namely: finding new approaches to meet future challenges

(innovation); working backwards from a longer-term goal (backcasting); taking a systems approach, with

universal health coverage (UHC) as the foundation; building solutions from the “grounds up”; driving and

measuring country impact; promoting health beyond the health sector; and greater use of strategic

communications. A renewed UHC TAG will serve as an overarching TAG to which all other TAGs will

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contribute, towards broader health systems transformation for achieving the goal of becoming the healthiest

and safest region.

Dr Capuano presented the climate change, the environment and health thematic priority, the four pillars and

the CCE Platform. The climate change and health component of this priority is relatively new to WHO.

While well-known environmental risks are not well incorporated into policies and actions, the environment

and health is an area that needs positioning. In spite of much work done in the past decades, there is limited

evidence of progress. All this calls for new ways of thinking and new ways of working, with key roles

performed by the CCE TAG and the CCE Platform. The TAG is composed of a dynamic group of experts

who are helping to propel the Region to a desirable and achievable future. In order to advance the shared

vision, WHO proposed four pillars. The first is advocacy, which calls for a better way to communicate

about the health impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Health is a neglected issue in

the discussions on climate change and the environment by other sectors. We need to build scientific

narratives and sound economic arguments on the health co-benefits of actions taken by other sectors. The

second pillar calls for building resilience into health systems in order to withstand the impacts of climate

change and environmental threats, so that people will always receive the care they need, where and when

they need it. The third pillar is monitoring the impact of climate change and the environment on health.

Timely, accurate and strategic information is needed to inform decision-making, guide advocacy and drive

action, helping us to track impacts and the success of interventions. Relevant data must have a particular

focus on health inequalities and vulnerable groups. The fourth pillar refers to applying a climate change

and environment lens to our work. This means that WHO staff in the Western Pacific Region must

understand the issues and be agents of change, making their contribution towards achieving the healthiest

and safest region.

Understanding that the CCE TAG cannot work in isolation, the idea of a platform for climate change, the

environment and health emerged. The CCE TAG is at the centre of the CCE Platform, linking it to regional

champions, WHO collaborating centres, other TAGs and WHO staff in regional and country offices. With

these groups, the platform covers the four pillars of advocacy, building resilience into health systems,

monitoring and applying a climate change and environment lens to our work. A digital component of the

platform will include items such as information on research, publications, tools, discussion forum, and

training. The CCE Platform is, therefore, a space that brings together and offers easy access to information

and tools to address the health impacts of climate change and the environment. It is an arena for sharing

experiences and an inviting venue for brainstorming, innovation and learning.

Professor Hong presented his “reflections for the future”, specifically addressing global and regional

challenges linked to climate change, the environment and health. Beginning with a discussion on the

COVID-19 pandemic, he reflected on the time of Marcus Aurelius in Rome in the year 165 AD, when one

quarter of the population was killed by smallpox. That pandemic marked the beginning of the decline of

the Roman Empire. In 1854, London was affected by a cholera epidemic that killed 10 000 people and

ultimately altered the course of development. The COVID-19 pandemic can be seen as a mandate to change

the course of our civilization. In recent years, several epidemics have emerged, including severe acute

respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002, pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in 2009, Middle East respiratory

syndrome (MERS) in 2012 and now COVID-19, and more epidemics are expected in the future. We are

living in an era marked by the rapid increase of emerging and degenerative diseases. We will need a systems

approach to combat them. Emerging risks such as climate change pose new challenges. Increases in global

temperatures are expected, but increases of 5o C may mean we will not be able to sustain our civilization.

From a health perspective, even with lower temperature increases, we can expect an increase in adverse

health outcomes, including more injuries, disabilities and drowning from extreme weather events, heat

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stress, waterborne and foodborne diseases, vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya,

malnutrition, respiratory diseases, and psychological stress, plus the unknown impacts of changes in flora

and fauna. Melting permafrost could wake up ancient frozen viruses with unforeseen consequences. Little

is known about the environmental factors behind recent epidemics. For example, both SARS and COVID-

19 started in the same region, during drought winter periods, although no linkages have been established.

Air pollution is the most serious environmental risk factor in the Region, with 2.2 million annual deaths

estimated for both outdoor and indoor air pollution. Important regional activities such as the Asia-Pacific

Forum on Health and Environment and its Thematic Working Group for air pollution are responding to this

threat. As we address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is important to think of building

sustainable and resilient communities. A transformation should start by looking at energy generation, urban

farming, active transport and green spaces. As the TAG develops an agenda of work, it must consider how

to make the future safe and healthy.

2.3 Session 3: Question and answer and plenary discussion on the thematic priority, the four pillars,

the CCE Platform and the TAG

Interventions by TAG members and country participants are summarized in the following points:

Climate change

• Climate change impacts are real and present. The Pacific region is changing dramatically. Sea-level rise,

saltwater intrusion on freshwater resources, loss of vegetation and risks to homes are all present,

especially during king tides. We must consider today how people will be relocated and how they will

access health services when their island homes are no longer habitable. There is good science and

evidence, but the sense of urgency is still not there.

• We need to build the economic arguments for climate change action. We need integrated planning to

mitigate both climate and health impacts and alignment of national actions and targets. A shared vision

is important to highlight local air quality improvements as part of climate change mitigation.

• Work is needed to deal with the adaptation deficit we face. This includes appropriate access to water,

such as a tap in all homes. We cannot continue to look at the past. We must start doing things differently.

People struggle to understand what they need to do to respond to climate change.

The future we wish to achieve

• COVID-19 has led to cleaner and more peaceful cities in some places and a renewed interest in nature.

In this context, it is important to reframe the climate crisis – in a sense, it is a different kind of pandemic

that will affect us over the coming decades. Communication can reframe issues and link them with

current experiences and feelings. We should trigger metaphors and stories and reframe them using new

words to catch the attention and increase the awareness of people.

• Climate change and pandemics are symptoms of the Anthropocene. COVID-19 has shown us that the

future is not predictable. How do we consider other rapid changes occurring in society? Population

growth, migration and urbanization will need to be considered in terms of global environmental change

and climate change and health outcomes.

• We are not respecting the environment and we are seeing the health impacts. We need to better

understand and act on these connections.

People and tools

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• It is critical to include Indigenous experiences and knowledge in the conversation on climate change,

the environment and health.

• We need to harness data from all sources. Data available for analysis are often at least 3 years old. This

is not acceptable for decision-making. Data sharing must be encouraged in countries, regions and

globally. Currently, data collection and surveillance are weaknesses in the Pacific, even for the SDGs.

• How will we implement the plan and what will be the mechanism for implementation after all outputs

are identified? The CCE Platform will be important and we need agreement moving forward. The TAG

will help us discuss with an open mind, including what we have not done and what has not worked.

Bringing coherence to our work

• The TAG needs to ensure there is coherence in all the work being done in the Region. While lots of

initiatives are being implemented by other sectors, they do not always consider the health aspects.

Coherence is also needed in work done with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC). It was difficult to put health on the agenda of COP23. Climate change, the

environment and health should become a community concern in the Region, with coherence in setting

priorities. As COVID-19 gives us the opportunity to prioritize health, we need to ensure the future is

climate friendly.

• While the right to health is a priority, accessing health services with uniformity is a struggle, particularly

for people in rural areas and in overcoming the gender divide.

• It is limited what can be done by 2024, and it is easy to be too ambitious and fail. We need to be realistic

in our proposals.

Building back better

• From the COVID-19 pandemic, how do we build back in a way that emphasizes renewable energy and

not fossil fuels? What role will the health sector play in building back better?

• When thinking of the environment and health, we must consider not only the natural environment, but

also the built environment. One concern is the large volume of transitory migrants, moving continuously

from rural areas to cities without any sort of health protection in the transit routes, becoming corridors

for disease transmission. With regards to climate change, we need to recognize where the threats are,

and design systems that protect everybody’s health all the time without being side-tracked on where

health starts or finishes.

Day 2

2.4 Session 4: Group work

Four groups were set up. Each one was composed of TAG members, country participants and WHO

Secretariat, with a TAG member acting as the group lead. Each group discussed the following questions:

• What is your dream future for climate change, the environment and health in the Western Pacific

Region?

• With these dreams in mind, what is the desired future, achievable in the next five years for health

systems?

• To realize this desired future by 2024, what do we need to achieve in the four pillars?

• What are the mechanisms and who are the partners that we have or can involve?

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TAG members were asked to complete a survey to indicate their preference to focus their future TAG work

in one of the four pillars.

Following the group work, each group lead met with the WHO Secretariat to prepare the next day’s

presentation.

Day 3

2.5 Session 5: Groups report back

Session 4 group work was presented by each group lead. This section reports on major findings from group

work with a focus on the desirable future, and achievable future actions over the next five years.

Group 1: This group stressed the importance of placing human health at the centre of sustainable

development, with healthy people living in healthy and health-protective environments, where food, water

and livelihood security are available to all. Agreements and targets related to climate change and the SDGs

will be met.

Over the next five years, the following is achievable:

• An increased understanding of the synergies between climate change, environment and health is

reflected in national policies and guidelines.

• Human health is placed at the centre of all national development programmes/agendas and polices

across sectors, and climate is mainstreamed into all health policies.

• The health sector supports clean and green health-care facilities (HCFs), and climate risks are

incorporated into health programming, e.g. water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Group 2: This group described the future as one where health for all is reached. Human rights, equity,

justice, sustainability and resilience are shared core principles and values. A strong nexus between climate

change, the environment and health is understood by all levels of society and integrated into decision-

making and operational functions across sectors. HCFs are resilient; no one worries about the impacts of

climate change and the environment on their lives.


• An increase in the number of HCFs with WASH services.

• Resource-sharing processes and mechanisms are strengthened to benefit countries with shared

priorities and obstacles.

• The health sector is an active participant in discussions, planning and implementation on CCE;

health is integrated across the CCE spectrum of initiatives and interventions.

• Processes and interventions are scaled up to sensitize populations to CCE issues and best practices

to help people understand climate change and what it means to them; people are empowered to

push for government and regional action.

• Country and regional-level understanding of CCE and health vulnerabilities is improved, and

evidence prompts the addressing of gaps in current responses.

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Group 3: This group identified the future as one where people live in harmony with the environment and

understand and appreciate the value of nature. Health systems have embraced the eco-social understanding

of health alongside bio-medical understandings. Indigenous and other traditional knowledge is used as

guides for the way we live. A One Health approach is adopted. Stronger data are available, zero casualties

during and after emergencies is achieved, and the health sector is prepared for health impacts.


• Everyone working in health systems understand that climate change is a health issue.

• Climate change, the environment and health is made part of corporate governance.

• People are living a balanced life in harmony with nature; WHO is promoting this notion.

• Climate and environment issues are being addressed with observable declines in carbon emissions

and major pollutions. There is no longer an acceleration of biodiversity loss.

• Data sharing across the Region is established, a framework is developed and used to make

evidence-based decisions, and a CCE and health report tracks progress.

• Health workforce capacity is built and HCFs can respond to disasters.

Group 4: This group envisioned a resilient and equitable society where climate change interventions are

rooted in social justices and protection of the most vulnerable. Huge strides in tackling climate change have

been made and a clear net carbon zero policy is adopted. Equitable and resilient health systems are

established to ensure basic services everywhere and to consider future risks with forward planning and

preparedness. Consultative processes that prioritize consultation on climate change and health include

mandatory consultation with communities and vulnerable groups. Enhanced regional cooperation and

solidarity occur.


• Climate change and health become everyone’s business.

• A robust, culturally and gender-appropriate consultation process is established. There is a

commitment to reach everyone without discrimination and to actively listen to communities. A

community-owned health policy on climate change and the environment is ensured.

• Basic health infrastructure is addressed where needed.

• Solidarity and “health in all policies” across the Region are established. Ministers of the

environment have a say on health, and ministries of health have a say on climate change and the

environment.

2.6 Session 6: Open question and answer on the group presentations

2.6.1 Discussion

A regional report proposal: What would be the best level at which to track and report. There are global,

national and city reports. Do we need a regional-level report? Country-level assessments could help produce

a regional view. It would involve capacity-building and bridging the gaps in data availability and analysis.

Currently, available information is insufficient and not easily shareable. This initiative would need the

support of the WHO Regional Office. A regional report could contribute to the global picture, e.g. in the

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Lancet Countdown, while also addressing region-specific problems, for example, the recent Australian

wildfires, the role of climate change, and their health impacts. Some Pacific island countries and areas are

trying to reach energy sufficiency through the use of solar panels and become carbon neutral. The latter

would be an example of positive indicators to reflect on, as they set an example for the world. Such

experiences need documenting.

The view that our Region should “leave no one behind” helps connect us to the rest of the UN system and

countries. This view recognized people in the world today, but it does not necessarily bring future

generations into the discussion. We need to include the issues of sustainable development of

intergenerational equity, including intergenerational health equity. We need to emphasize not leaving future

generations behind. Other cross-cutting themes across the four pillars include localization, actions at the

community level, self-reliance and coherence.

2.6.2 Consolidation of ideas from the working groups on the four pillars

Our vision is a Region well prepared to face a changing climate and the environment, in which the health

sector will emerge as a strong force for preserving the planet. COVID-19 has shown us that by protecting

health, we can preserve the planet. We need to incorporate the lessons we are learning across our work.

What was impossible yesterday is our “new normal” today.

Advocacy

By 2024, we expect to have a common agenda and coherent approach to CCE across all sectors, with a

strong health focus. We envision a future where indigenous and traditional knowledge is drawn on to help

people understand CCE and to shape culturally appropriate action with the full participation of

communities, where women are heard and their views used to shape policy, where CCE action considers

inequalities and strives to reach the unreached; and where the media are engaged as powerful partners in

communicating health as a climate change and environment issue.

We expect that health will be seen as a climate change and environment issue and considered with the same

seriousness as a pandemic. The health sector’s views will be routinely sought in work led by other sectors,

and that the health sector will be equipped with strong economic arguments, including the costs of not being

resilient.

To achieve this, we need positive stories that show the indirect but extremely powerful contributions that

other sectors are making to health (e.g. transport, economy, infrastructure). Stories should share concrete

ideas for more sustainable living – towards scaling up ideas from the ground(s). We need investments in

youth, art and education as key approaches to promoting awareness of and effective responses to the impacts

of climate change and the environment.

Building resilience into health systems

By 2024, we expect that all health systems in the Western Pacific Region will be building resilience at all

levels, so systems continue to function and deliver the care that people need despite shocks. We envision a

future where the health workforce is prepared physically and emotionally for emergencies and is

knowledgeable of climate resilience and green actions, where infrastructure is increasingly ‘green’, and

where plans are implemented to ensure the most vulnerable are reached.

15

Resilience also requires that WASH is fully integrated in all health facilities across the Region. It requires

that the health sector is actively considering and mitigating their contribution to CCE, prioritizing the use

of renewable energy to power health facilities, and working to improve waste management.

To achieve this, countries and areas in the Region must have the tools and knowledge to respond to disasters,

including on design and location of infrastructure to withstand shocks. The health sector must work with

other sectors and access financial resources as needed. Approaches must consider the diversity in our

Region (country size, cultures, etc.) and go beyond pilots, prototypes and best practices.

Monitoring the impact of climate change and the environment on health

By 2024, we will have revised, revisited and rethought what we measure, as well as how and why.

Monitoring will be efficient and timely. We will be able to assess health system resilience, including its

efforts to be ‘greener’ and the impact of climate change and environmental threats on health (including

climate-sensitive diseases, mental health, etc.). The digital arm of the CCE Platform will be providing easy

access to standardized tools (e.g. library of indicators, survey and assessment tools).

We have built capacities in the collection and use of data and are engaging communities in the process. We

have WHO guidelines on measurement and benchmarking, and we have managed to integrate several

different and related monitoring systems (WASH FIT, safe hospitals, JMP, etc.). We can analyse and model

various relevant parameters and guide appropriate action. We have also established a mechanism for sharing

data among partners for the benefit of everyone.

Applying a climate change and environment lens to our work

By 2024, all WHO staff in the Western Pacific Region will see health as a climate change and environment

issue. WHO staff across all programmes will understand how to apply a lens to their work, while climate

change, environment and health colleagues will be working with staff in other technical areas to support

this. We expect all partners will see and be inspired by the way WHO staff have incorporated and are

applying a climate change and environment lens to their work (e.g. at country level).

Additionally, WHO will lead by example in environmental practice (virtual meetings, reduced travel,

reduced commuting time, food, packaging, etc.). The result is that health, and WHO, are at the centre of

CCE discussions and negotiations at national, regional and global levels.

2.6.3 TAG member comments

The pillars are very useful, as well as the mechanism of the CCE Platform. We need to address the cross-

cutting issues that will ensure that we address all issues, not losing those that may not be addressed in any

one specific pillar. There are no walls between pillars.

16

2.7 Session 7: Practical way forward - establishing pillar groups and agreeing on the next steps

Following a survey completed by TAG members to indicate their preferred pillar for group work, the

Secretariat presented their composition:

• Advocacy: Mr Luca Carra, Italy; Ms Rhonda Robinson, Fiji; Ms Pepetua Latasi, Tuvalu; and Mr

Alfredo Pascual, the Philippines.

• Building resilience into health systems: Dr Josephine Aumea Herman, Cook Islands; Ambassador

Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji; Dr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, Viet Nam; and Professor Guy Howards,

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

• Monitoring the impacts of climate change and the environment on health: Ms Emi Chutaro,

Republic of the Marshall Islands; Professor Peng Gong, China; Professor Masahiro Hashizume,

Japan; and Professor Alistair Woodward, New Zealand.

• Applying a climate change and environment lens to our work: Professor Yun-Chul Hong, Republic

of Korea; Ms Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Republic of the Marshall Islands; Professor Kristie Ebi, United

States of America; and Professor Tony Capon, Australia.

Dr Capuano presented on moving towards the desirable future we can achieve by 2024.

With the For the Future tool and the SDGs, we are looking to have the safest and healthiest region. We

have envisioned a future we can achieve. We now need to look backwards, on what we can do in each year.

We will be using all the elements proposed in For the Future: backcasting, innovation, taking a systems

approach, measuring country impacts, building grounds-up solutions, promoting health beyond the health

sector, and using strategic communications.

Working in pillar groups, the TAG members will begin envisioning a plan of action. They will be supported

by members of the WHO Secretariat. We expect that before the Regional Committee meeting in October,

we will have identified strategic priorities for each pillar and high-level actions, to be discussed at a short

virtual meeting in September. In 2021, we will hold a full meeting of the TAG, which may be virtual or

face to face. Other opportunities for discussion in 2021 include the Pacific Heads of Health meeting in

April, the World Health Assembly in May, the 14th Pacific Health Ministers Meeting in Tuvalu, and the

WHO Regional Committee.

2.8 Session 8: Closing session

Ambassador Khan provided pre-recorded closing remarks: “This has been an immensely useful deliberation

which gave us a vision, and we note the importance to adopt steps which are pragmatic and will lead us to

this vision.” She thanked Dr Kasai for bringing the TAG together, and Professor Hong for his work as chair.

She highlighted the opportunity to work together, towards making a difference, for a world that sees a

sustainable future for health systems and climate policy.

Professor Hong thanked the TAG members and the WHO Secretariat. He closed by saying, “We all spoke

about caring for people and ecosystems, and how to live harmoniously in the Anthropocene. We look

forward to contributing towards a sustainable future.”

In Dr Capuano’s closing remarks, she noted that a virtual meeting such as this would not have been possible

a year ago. Participants from different backgrounds worked with an open mind, listened, explored and

17

shared their visions. A seed was planted for the TAG to drive the Region into the future. In the last three

days, participants were asked not only to dream about the future, but also to come up with practical steps

to reach this dream. “We have dreamed a future for the TAG, and as a team, we are fully embracing For

the Future and powering the CCE Platform towards this vision. In 2024, when we look back, we will see a

group that has met regularly, leveraging their different areas of expertise and making concrete contributions

in each of the four pillars.”

Dr Capuano highlighted some of the dreams for WHO. Under advocacy, the COP in 2025 will focus on

health as a climate change issue. Under building resilience into health systems, all HCFs in the Western

Pacific Region will have access to basic WASH. Under monitoring, the impacts of climate change and the

environment on health and the health co-benefits of actions taken by other sectors will be monitored and

used to inform policy and drive action. Under applying a climate change and environment lens to our work,

all WHO staff will be incorporating CCE in their work to support countries, regardless of their technical

area. In 2024, people will say, “They did know it was impossible, and they did it. They came together and

brought their enthusiasm, dedication and knowledge to change this Region and drive us to the future they

were dreaming about in 2020, helping us achieve what has not been possible until now.” This is our dream.

The chair declared the meeting closed.

18

3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 Conclusions

The virtual inaugural meeting provided a forum for TAG members and country participants to discuss and

identify elements of the desirable future for climate change, the environment and health, as well as ideas

of mechanisms and potential partners that need to be engaged.

To continue the work on the thematic priority, TAG members agreed to establish pillar working groups

and to develop strategic priorities and practical high-level actions to achieve the desirable 2024 future.

The key issues and messages arising from this meeting are as follows:

Desirable futures for climate change, the environment and health

• Our vision is a Region well prepared to face a changing climate and environment, in which the

health sector will emerge as a strong force for preserving the planet.

• COVID-19 has shown us that by protecting health, we can preserve the planet. We expect that

health will be seen as a climate change and environment issue and will be considered with the same

seriousness as a pandemic.

• Advocacy. By 2024, we expect to have a common agenda and coherent approach to CCE across all

sectors, with a strong health focus. We envision a future where indigenous and traditional

knowledge is drawn on to help people understand CCE and to shape culturally appropriate action

with the full participation of communities, where women are heard and their views used to shape

policy, and where CCE action considers inequalities and strives to reach the unreached.

• Building resilience into health systems. By 2024, we expect that all health systems in the Western

Pacific Region will be building resilience at all levels, so systems continue to function and deliver

the care all people need despite shocks. We envision a future where the health workforce is prepared

physically and emotionally for emergencies and is knowledgeable of climate resilience and green

actions; where infrastructure is increasingly ‘green’ and plans implemented to ensure the most

vulnerable are reached. WASH is fully integrated into all health facilities across the Region. The

health sector is actively considering and mitigating its own contribution to CCE, prioritizing the

use of renewable energy to power health facilities, and working to improve waste management.

• Monitoring the impacts of climate change and the environment on health. By 2024, we will have

revised, revisited and rethought what we measure, as well as how and why. Monitoring will be

efficient and timely. We will be able to assess health system resilience including its efforts to be

‘greener’. We have built capacities in the collection and use of data and are engaging communities

in the process.

• Applying a climate change and environment lens to our work. By 2024, we expect all WHO staff

in the Western Pacific Region will see health as a climate change and environment issue. WHO

staff across all programmes will understand how to apply a CCE lens to their work, while CCE and

health colleagues are working with staff in other technical areas to support this. We expect all

partners will see and be inspired by the way WHO staff have incorporated and are applying a CCE

lens to their work (e.g. at country level).

19

Mechanisms and partners

• The CCE TAG and the CCE Platform are the principal mechanisms for advancing the regional

CCE work.

• TAG members articulated a vision for the future and agreed on the steps to lead us to this vision.

• The media should be engaged as powerful partners in communicating health as a climate change

and environment issue.

• We need positive stories that show the indirect but extremely powerful positive contributions that

other sectors are making to health (e.g. transport, economy, infrastructure). Stories that share

concrete ideas for more sustainable living – towards scaling up ideas from the ground(s) up.

• We need investments in youth, art and education as key approaches to promoting awareness of and

effective responses to climate change and environment impacts.

• We must ensure that countries and areas in the Region have the tools and knowledge to respond to

disasters, including on design and location of infrastructure to withstand shocks.

• We need the health sector working with other sectors and accessing financial resources as needed.

Approaches must consider the diversity in our Region (country size, cultures, etc.) and go beyond

pilots, prototypes and best practices.

• The digital arm of the CCE Platform should provide easy access to standardized tools (e.g. library

of indicators, survey and assessment tools). It could also serve as a mechanism for sharing data

among partners for the benefit of everyone.

• WHO can lead by example in environmental practice (e.g. virtual meetings, reduced travel, reduced

commuting time, food packaging). As a result, health, and WHO, will be at the centre of CCE

discussions and negotiations at national, regional and global levels.

• We need to address cross-cutting issues and issues that may not be addressed in any one specific

pillar, noting that there are no walls in between pillars.

3.2 Recommendations

3.2.1 Recommendations for the CCE TAG

The TAG members are encouraged to consider the following:

(1) Meet regularly, leveraging their different expertise and making concrete contributions to each of

the four pillars by developing a plan of work for each pillar group.

(2) Identify 2–3 strategic priorities for each pillar and develop practical high-level actions under each

strategic priority by mid-September 2020 (prior to the Regional Committee session in October).

(3) Bring the TAG discussions in 2021 to key meetings, for example, the Pacific Heads of Health

meeting in April, the World Health Assembly in May, the 14th Pacific Health Ministers Meeting

and the WHO Regional Committee.

(4) Advocate for a better understanding of climate change and the environment as a central health

issue towards achieving the global goal of “leaving no one behind” and the needs of future

generations.

20

3.2.2 Recommendations for WHO

WHO is requested to consider the following:

(1) Support the TAG in developing their plan of work.

(2) Set up a platform for climate change, the environment and health, with the CCE TAG at the centre,

linking regional champions, WHO collaborating centres, other TAGs, and WHO regional and

country offices.

(3) Support building resilient health systems by increasing action in access to water, sanitation and

hygiene, or WASH, in health-care facilities.

(4) Advocate in countries and with international agencies to increase the health sector presence in the

meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change parties.

(5) Work with other WHO programmes to address climate change and environmental health issues.

(6) Strengthen work with other sectors to highlight the health co-benefits of interventions outside

health.

(7) Assess data needs and data analysis capacity in countries for effective monitoring of impacts and

interventions.

(8) Promote WHO as a leader in sustainability by continuing the practice of virtual meetings, reduced

travel and reduced commuting time.

(9) Provide ongoing support to the CCE TAG.

21

ANNEXES

Annex 1: List of Participants

WORLD HEALTH

ORGANIZATION

ORGANISATION MONDIALE

DE LA SANTE


BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL

ADVISORY GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE,

THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH IN THE

WESTERN PACIFIC REGION

TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY

23-25 June 2020

WPR/DPS/PCE (01)/2020/IB/2

01-Jun-2020

ENGLISH ONLY

INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 2

PROVISIONAL LIST OF TAG MEMBERS

RESOURCE PERSONS, REPRESENTATIVES/OBSERVERS

AND SECRETARIAT

1. TAG MEMBERS

Professor Tony Capon

Director and Professor of Planetary Health

Monash Sustainable Development Institute

Monash University

8 Scenic Boulevard

Clayton campus, VIC 3800

Australia

Email: [email protected]

Mr Luca Carra

Science Journalist; Health Communication Expert

Zadig Ltd Communication Company

81A, Via Giuseppe Colombo

20122 Milano

Italy


mailto:[email protected]


22

Ms Emi Chutaro

Executive Director

Pacific Island Health Officers’ Association (PIHOA)

737 Bishop Street, Suite 2075

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

United States of America


Professor Kristie Ebi

Professor, Global Health, Environment

and Occupational Health Sciences

UW Center for Health and the Global Environment

University of Washington

4225 Roosevelt Way NE

Suite 100, Room 2330, Box 354695

Seattle, WA 98105

United States of America


Professor Peng Gong

Professor and Chair, Department of Earth System Science

Dean, School of Science

Tsinghua University

Room S801, S805 Mengminwei Science and Technology Building

Tsinghua University,

Haidian, Beijing 100084

China


Professor Masahiro Hashizume

Professor, Department of Global Health Policy

Graduate School of Medicine

The University of Tokyo

7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku

Tokyo 113-0033

Japan


1. Dr Josephine Aumea Herman

Secretary of Health

Ministry of Health of Cook Islands

PO Box 109





23

Rarotonga

Cook Islands


2. Professor Yun-Chul Hong

Director, Division of Public Health and Medical Care, SNU

Hospital and

Director, Institute of Environmental Medicine, College of

Medicine,

Seoul National University

103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu,

Seoul 03080

Republic of Korea


Professor Guy Howard

Global Research Chair Environmental and Infrastructure

University of Bristol

Address 1.25 QB Queen’s Building

University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR

United Kingdom


Dr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong

Director General of Viet Nam Health Environment Management

Agency (VIHEMA)

Ministry of Health Viet Nam

Room 2710, Block A2,

An Binh Residence

Co Nhue 1, Bac Tu Liem District,

Ha Noi City,

Viet Nam 100000


Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Fiji to

the United Nations in Geneva

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Fiji to the United

Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Avenue de France 23 (6th Floor B)

1202 Geneva

Switzerland

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]







24

Ms Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

Co-founder and Director

Jo-Jikum, the youth environmentalist non-profit organization

Bar Kan Weto

PO Box 3464 Majuro

Marshall Islands 96960


Ms Pepetua Latasi

Director of the Climate Change Policy

and Disaster Coordination Unit

Office of the Prime Minister

Private Mail Bag

Funafuti

Tuvalu

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Mr Alfredo E. Pascual

Board Trustee

Institute of Corporate Directors

14th Floor, Trident Tower,

312 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.

Makati City 1200

Philippines


3. Ms. Rhonda Robinson

Deputy Director of Disaster and Community Resilience Programme

Pacific Community

SPC Suva Campus

Private Mail Bag

Suva

Fiji


Professor Alistair Woodward

Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

School of Population Health, University of Auckland

The University of Auckland

Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142

New Zealand






mailto:rhondar@spc.


25

2. COUNTRY PARTICIPANTS

Cook Islands Mr Wayne King

Director of Climate Change

Office of the Prime Minister

Private Bag

Avarua

Rarotonga


Ms Teinatangi Ringi

Policy Officer

Department of Planning and Funding

Ministry of Health

Avarua

Rarotonga


Fiji Dr Aalisha Sahu Khan

Acting Head of Health Protection

Ministry of Health and Medical Services

Dinem House

Suva

Fiji

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Ms Sandeep K Singh

Director, Department of Environment

Ministry of Environment

PO Bo 2109, Government Buildings

19 McGregor Road

Suva

Fiji


Kiribati Mr Tebikau Noran

Chief Health Inspector

Environmental Health Services

Department of Public Health







26

Tarawa

Kiribati


Lao PDR Mr Amphayvanh Oudomdeth

Director, Climate Change Adaptation Division

Department of Climate Change

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Sisavath Road, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

P.O.Box: 7864


Dr Panom Phongmany

Deputy Director General, Hygiene and Health Promotion

Department

Ministry of Health


Mongolia Dr Taznaa Enkhzaya

Director of Department of Public Health

Ministry of Health of Mongolia

Olympic street-2, Government building VIII

Sukhbaatar District

Ulaanbaatar-14210

Mongolia


Ms Tsog Anand

Officer in Charge of Climate Change Policy

Department of Climate Change and International Cooperation

Ministry of Environment and Tourism

Government Building 2

United Nations Street 5/2

Ulaanbaatar 15160

Mongolia


Philippines Mr Roderick M. Napulan

Designated Chief

Research and Performance Management Division

Department of Health – Health Facility Development Bureau








27

Mr. Albert Magalang

Chief, Climate Change Division

Environmental Management Bureau

Department of Environment and Natural Resources


Mr Jerome Ilagan

Division Chief

Climate Change Commission – Policy Research and Development

Division


3. RESOURCE PERSONS

Dr Carlos Corvalan

Consultant, Division of Pacific Technical Support


University of Sydney, School of Public Health

Australia


Dr Aderita Sena

Consultant, Division of Pacific Technical Support


Resilient Systems

Australia


Dr Janis Alexandra Shandro

Consultant, Health and the Environment

Division of Healthy Environments and Populations



P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines







28

4. OBSERVERS

Ministry of Health and Medical

Services, Fiji

Mr Vimal Deo

Chief Health Inspector


Dinem House

Suva

Fiji


Mr Jese Vatukela

National Coordinator, Health Emergency and Climate Change


Dinem House

Suva

Fiji


Ministry of Natural Resources,

Lao PDR

Mr Sakounsit Sengkhamyong

Senior Technical Officer

Climate Change Adaptation Division

Department of Climate Change

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment


Department of Health,

Philippines

Engr Luis Cruz

Supervising Health Program Officer

Department of Health – Disease Prevention and Control Bureau

Environment-Related Diseases Division


Engr Maria Sonabel Anarna

Supervising Health Program Officer

Department of Health – Disease Prevention and Control Bureau

Environment-Related Diseases Division







29

5. SECRETARIAT

WHO WPRO Dr Takeshi Kasai

Regional Director



P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines


Dr Liu Yunguo

Director, Division of Programme Management


P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines


Dr Shin Hai Rim

Director, Division of Healthy Environments and Populations



P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines


Dr Marco Martuzzi

Head of Office

Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western

Pacific Region


Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO – WPRO)

11F Seoul Global Centre Building

38, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu

Seoul

Republic of Korea






30

Dr Genandrialine Peralta

Coordinator, Health and the Environment

Division of Healthy Environments and Populations



P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines


Mr Rodel Rodriguez

Assistant

Health and the Environment (HAE), Division of Healthy

Environments and Populations (DHP)



P.O. Box 2932

100 Manila

Philippines


WHO/WPRO Country Offices Dr Oyuntogos Lkhasuren

Technical Officer, Occupational and Environmental Health

Office of the WHO Representative in Lao Peoples Democratic

Republic

125 Saphanthong Road, Unit 5

Ban Saphangthongtai, Sisattanak District

Vientiane Capital

Lao Peoples Democratic Republic


Ms Souvanaly Thammavong

Technical Officer, Occupational and Environmental Health

Office of the WHO Representative in Lao Peoples Democratic

Republic

125 Saphanthong Road, Unit 5

Ban Saphangthongtai, Sisattanak District

Vientiane Capital

Lao Peoples Democratic Republic






31

Dr Delgermaa Vanya

Technical Officer, Health and Environment and MCH

Office of the WHO Representative in Mongolia

Ministry of Health

Government Building No. 8

Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia


Dr Bonifacio Magtibay

Technical Officer, Environmental and Occupational Health

Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines

Ground Floor, Building 3

Department of Health

San Lazaro Hospital Compound

P.O Box 2932

Sta. Cruz, Manila

Philippines


WHO South Pacific Dr Corinne Capuano

WHO Representative for the South Pacific and Director,

Pacific Technical Support


Level 4 Provident Plaza One, Downtown Boulevard

33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Dr Mohd Nasir Hassan

Team Coordinator, Pacific Climate Change and Environment



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Saori Kitabatake

Technical Officer, Pacific Climate Change and Environment







32

33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Benedicte Galichet

Technical Officer, Communications, Resource Mobilization &

External Relations



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Jin Ni

Communications Officer



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Maraia Meo

Technical Officer, Water and Sanitation, Pacific Climate Change

and Environment



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Kelera Oli

National Climate Change and Health Officer (SSA)

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji







33

Mr Anish Prasad

Assistant (Informatics)



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji


Ms Temalesi Vakaotia

Secretary, Pacific Climate Change and Environment



33 Ellery Street

Suva, Fiji




34

Annex 2: Meeting Programme

W O R L D H E A L T H

ORGANIZATION


DE LA SANTE



INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY 18 June 2020

GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT AND ENGLISH ONLY

HEALTH IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION (CCE TAG)

Virtual

23 – 25 June 2020

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES

Time Activities Speaker/Moderator

Day 1, 23 June 2020

09:00 – 10:00

(Manila time)

Session 1: Opening Session Moderated by Dr Corinne

Capuano, Director, Division of

Pacific Technical Support, WHO

Regional Office for the Western

Pacific

09:00 – 09:20 1.1 Welcome remarks and introduction of

CCE TAG Members and country

participants

Dr Corinne Capuano

09:20 – 09:40 1.2 Opening address

Dr Takeshi Kasai

WHO Regional Director for the

Western Pacific

35

09:40-09:50 1.3 Introduction of the Honourable

Minister of Environment, Republic of

Korea, Mr. Cho Myung-rae, and the Mayor

of Seoul, Mr Park Woon-soon – and their

recorded messages

Dr Marco Martuzzi, Head of Office,

Asia-Pacific Centre for

Environment and Health,

WHO Regional Office for the

Western Pacific

09:50 – 09:55 1.4 Announcement of Chair and Vice Chair

of CCE TAG

Dr Takeshi Kasai

09:55 – 10:00 Group photo

10:00– 10:55 Session 2: Meeting Objectives and

Background Presentations on CCE

Moderated by the Chair of the

CCE-TAG

10:00 – 10:10 2.1 Objectives of the meeting and meeting

agenda

Dr Hai-Rim Shin,

Director, Division of Healthy Environments and Populations, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

10:10 – 10:20 2.2 Presentation on the For the future and

Governance of TAG in WPRO

Dr Liu Yunguo, Director

Division of Programme

Management, WHO Regional

Office for the Western Pacific

10:20 – 10:40 2.3 Presentation on the CCE Thematic

Priority, CCE Platform, and the four pillars

Dr Corinne Capuano

10:40 – 10:55 2.4 Reflections for the future: global and

regional climate change, environment and

health challenges

Professor Yun-Chul Hong, Director

Division of Public Health and

Preventive Medicine and Director,

Institute of Environmental

Medicine, College of Medicine,

36

Seoul National University,

Republic of Korea

10:55 – 11:45 Session 3: Q&A and plenary discussion on

the CCE Thematic Priority, the Four

Pillars, the Platform, and the TAG

Chair of the CCE TAG

11:45 Administrative announcement Secretariat

End of Day 1

Note 1:

• TAG members based in Europe who are unable to join the meeting due to time difference are asked to

watch web-recording of day 1.

• Then on 24 June at 0600 hrs Suva time, the Secretariat with have a Q&A session with these TAG

Members – this is equivalent to 1900 hrs in London/2000 hrs in Rome, Geneva and Paris.

Time Activities Speaker/Moderator

Day 2, 24 June 2020

09:00 – 11:10 Session 4: Group work Moderated by the Chair of

the CCE-TAG

09:00 – 09:10 4.1 Plenary briefing on the group break-

out sessions

Secretariat

09:10 - 11:10

4.2 Group break-out sessions to identify

desirable futures for climate change, the

environment and health, that can be

achieved by 2024 (overall and by pillar)

Group leads

End of Day 2

Note 2:

• For TAG members based in Europe, Session 4.1 and 4.2 will run from 15:00-17:00 Manila time. (This is

equivalent to 08:00-10:00 in London and 09:00-10:00 in Geneva and Rome). WHO Secretariat support

37

will be provided by Dr Genandrialine Peralta (Coordinator, Health and the Environment, Division of

Healthy Environments and Populations) and Dr Marco Martuzzi.

Time Activities Responsible officer/s

Day 3, 25 June 2020

09:00 – 09:45 Session 5: Groups report back

(10 minutes/group presentation)

Chair of CCE TAG

09:45 – 10:15 Session 6: Open Q&A on the group

presentations

Chair of CCE TAG

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 10:50 Session 7: Practical way forward -

establishing pillar groups and agreeing

next steps

Chair of CCE TAG

10:35-10:50 Moving towards the desirable future we

can achieve by 2024

Dr Corinne Capuano

10:50 – 11:10 Session 8: Closing session

10:50 – 10:55 8.1 Closing remarks by Vice-chair CCE TAG

(video message)

Vice-chair of CCE TAG

10:55 –11:05 8.2 Closing remarks by Chair CCE TAG Chair of CCE TAG

11:05 – 11:10 8.3 Closing remarks by Regional Director Dr Takeshi Kasai

Note 3:

• TAG members based in Europe who are unable to join the meeting due to time difference are asked to

watch web-recording of day 3.

• Then on Friday, 26 June at 0600 hrs Suva time, the Secretariat with have a meeting with them to discuss

the summary of day 3 and to obtain inputs from Europe-based members to finalise the meeting outcomes

– this is equivalent to 1900 hrs in London/2000 hrs in Rome, Geneva and Paris.

38

Annex 3: Meeting Programme for Europe-based participants

W O R L D H E A L T H

ORGANIZATION


DE LA SANTE



INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY 18 June 2020

GROUP ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ENVIRONMENT ENGLISH ONLY

AND HEALTH IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION (CCE TAG) Virtual 23 – 25 June 2020

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES

For participants based in Europe region

Please refer to the attachment for the original meeting programme based in Manila time


Day 1, 23 June 2020

Please block 2.5 hours in your calendar

Watch web-recording of the meeting day 1 that will be provided by the Secretariat. The web-recording covers:

- Session 1: Opening Session - Session 2: Meeting Objectives and

Background Presentations on CCE - Session 3: Q&A and plenary

discussion on the CCE Thematic Priority, the Four Pillars, the Platform, and the TAG

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19:00 – 20:00

(London)

20:00 – 21:00

(Rome/Geneva)

Q&A session on the Day 1 Secretariat

Division of Pacific Technical Support, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

06:00 – 07:00

On Wednesday, 24th June (Suva)

End of Day 1


Day 2, 24 June 2020

08:00 – 10:00

(London)

09:00 – 11:00

(Rome/Geneva)

Session 4: Group work

Group break-out sessions to identify desirable futures for climate change, the environment and health that can be achieved by 2024 (overall and by pillar)

Dr Genandrialine Peralta

Coordinator

Health and the Environment, Division of Healthy Environments and Populations, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Dr Marco Martuzzi

Head of Office

Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

End of Day 2

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Day 3, 25 June 2020

Please block 2 hours in your calendar

Watch web-recording of the meeting day 3 that will be provided by the Secretariat. The web-recording covers:

- Session 5: Groups report back - Session 6: Open Q&A on the group

presentations - Session 7: Practical way forward - Session 8: Closing session

19:00 – 20:00

(London)

20:00 – 21:00

(Rome/Geneva)

06:00 – 07:00 on Friday, 26th June (Suva)

Follow up meeting

- to share the summary of day 3 and to finalize the meeting outcomes

Secretariat

Division of Pacific Technical Support, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

End of Day 3

www.wpro.who.int

inaugural meeting of the technical advisory group on

Documents