Countries must act now to prevent the worst impacts of climate change on our health and health systems

Statement by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, at the 7^th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest, Hungary

Szép napot Budapestről! Good day from Budapest!

Welcome to the 7^th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, hosted by the Hungarian Government.

I warmly thank Hungary for its long and active history in this conference series – having already hosted the 4^th Ministerial Conference in 2004. At that meeting, it was Hungary’s foresight that resulted in the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe being agreed upon, paving the way to better protect younger generations.  

Almost 20 years later, Budapest is again at the centre of the action; hosting 46 countries from Europe and Central Asia, 30 ministers and state secretaries, over 600 partners, civil society and youth organization representatives –  all here to accelerate progress in addressing the existential threat posed by the triple environmental crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

Why is this conference so important?

• Because an estimated 1.4 million people across the European Region die every year from environmental risk factors; nearly half of these needless deaths can be attributed to air pollution alone.
• Because last summer – the hottest ever recorded in Europe – over 20,000 people died due to extreme heat.
• Because 77 million people in the Region still lack access to safely-managed drinking water.
• Because as a Region, we are moving far too slowly, severely jeopardizing our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Action needs to be taken by governments.

Action needs to be taken by partners.

Action needs to be taken by all of us as individuals

It was truly inspiring to take part in a youth event yesterday – young people represent a third of the population of the European Region, and I am committed to engaging with them on the inclusive, intersectoral and transformative actions that are needed for a healthy and sustainable recovery and a resilient future. I look forward to the adoption of a Youth Declaration at this Conference, emphasizing that a clean and healthy environment is a basic human right.

There is a Hungarian saying, Aki mer, az nyer. He who dares, wins.

If we do not try—or dare—we’ll never succeed, because we will not have given ourselves the chance to do so in the first place. So, let us dare. Let us win. Together.

Köszönöm! Thank you.

ENDS

eupress@who.int