Indonesia Joins Hand with UNDP, WHO to Launch Green Climate Fund

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Health together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed to launch the Green Climate Fund (GCF) program.

As part of the global GCF project, which includes 17 countries, the project in Indonesia will be designed to increase the climate resilience of health services through climate adaptation and mitigations. 

This project aims to establish a climate change-resilient and sustainable national health system, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the health system and healthcare facilities, and increase funding for transformative action on climate-related health risks.

This initiative will help Indonesia's health system become more resilient to climate change, and promote a climate change-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health system.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said climate change has a big impact on human health, especially infectious and non-communicable diseases.

"That's why we working in health sectors have to be prepared. All animals likely to interact more frequently with humans should be screened first for pathogens, viruses, and bacteria," said Minister of Health Budi, quoted in a press release, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

Efforts to realize these measures require a large budget. For this reason, this project is implemented in collaboration with global institutions such as UNDP and WHO. Minister of Health Budi explained that the two global institutions act as catalysts to attract the involvement of other global organizations.

Officer in Charge of UNDP Indonesia Sujala Pant said UNDP believes climate change is an interrelated issue and is integrated in almost all areas of UNDP’s work. "Therefore, this collaboration is very important for us," Sujala said.

WHO Representative for Indonesia N. Paranietharan said climate change is the biggest health threat faced by humanity and WHO is committed to responding to it.

"The launch of this initiative marks a bold step forward for Indonesia, which is highly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, and will accelerate progress towards a healthier, greener, more resilient, and more sustainable future for everyone," said Paranietharan.

IRSYAN HASYIM

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