Resource

Social health protection for climate action

  • English
Lou Tessier, Universal Social Protection (ILO)
2024
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Summary

The world is experiencing an unprecedented climate crisis driven by human activities, with increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases causing temperatures to rise and impacting the global climate system. This situation has significant consequences for human health, and the severity and scale of these effects will depend on our ability to take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Robust social health protection systems are needed to contribute to mitigation efforts while supporting households in adapting to climate change. In June 2023, the International Labour Conference adopted a resolution for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies, urging governments to provide integrated responses to climate change, particularly through coherent employment, social protection, and industrial policies.

The International Labour Conference's 2023 resolution emphasizes the need to provide universal access to comprehensive, adequate, and sustainable social protection systems to safeguard populations against adverse impacts and enhance resilience, facilitating a just transition. This builds on previous resolutions and guidelines, such as the 2021 call for universal social protection and the ILO's 2015 guidelines for a just transition. The aim is to create nationally appropriate social protection systems to address various risks throughout individuals' life cycles, ensuring protection in the face of sickness, unemployment, old age, and other contingencies. This integrated approach is crucial for addressing the climate crisis and supporting affected populations.

Policy brief 668 Health care , Crisis
03.06.2024