Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting 2009

Theme: Health and Climate Change

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Date: 17 May 2009

Background

Strong, international, scientific consensus asserts that Climate Change is happening, and that it will impact on human health. The risks to human health from climate change vary from small prevalence increases in diseases currently causing major global health burdens (such as malaria and diarrhoeal diseases), to extreme weather events (such as heat waves, hurricanes and floods) which are set to increase in frequency and which have the potential to cause sudden and large impacts on mortality and morbidity. The health impacts of climate change are expected to vary considerably in type and scale between countries and within populations, largely due to differences in climate, disease burden and socio-economic factors.

This year’s CHMM provides an opportunity to bring Commonwealth Health Ministers and senior officials together to explore the risks to human health posed by climate change in the Commonwealth, and the effective policy responses for managing these risks. This will be achieved both by inviting expert speakers and by facilitating the exchange of experiences and expertise between attending Commonwealth Health Ministers and their delegations.

The meeting builds on the Secretariat's on-going work on climate change and health. The Commonwealth's role on climate change has been clearly elaborated and a framework for action was reviewed by Environment Ministers in February 2007. In developing this programme, the Commonwealth Secretariat has worked closely with the Commonwealth Foundation, which has facilitated consultations amongst civil sociaty and professional groups. This has produced an approach that draws on the full range of Commonwealth networks to engage stakeholders and builds capacity.

Ministers and heads of delegations only will be invited to a lunch caucus with the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Ministers will have the opportunity to engage in an open discussion on issues of concern with the Secretary-General.

Objectives

The objectives of the meeting are to provide a forum for Ministers to:

• Discuss the main policy and technical issues related to Health and Climate Change;
• Exchange country experiences and establish linkages for future technical cooperation between countries;
• Provide countries with an opportunity to discuss emerging health issues
• Review the Secretariat’s health portfolio. 
• Provide policy and technical direction to the Secretariat’s work on Health and Climate Change.