[A summarized unofficial version of the press release]

Global Public Health Leaders and Experts

Convene to Discuss Response Measures to The Climate Crisis

- The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) organized an international symposium and a high-level event where global public health leaders and experts gathered to exchange information and knowledge on the impacts of the climate crisis on health.

- The high-level roundtable discussed joint responses and explored future pathways for greater global collaboration to tackle the climate crisis.

Osong, 29th November 2024 – The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) hosted the International Symposium and High-Level Roundtable on Climate Change and Health on Friday, November 22, at Spigen Hall in Seoul. The event aimed to exchange knowledge on the impacts of the climate crisis on health and to further strengthen joint responses and global cooperation to address these pressing challenges.

Under the theme "Assessing Health Vulnerability to Climate Change," the symposium featured insightful presentations by experts from Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom. These presentations highlighted their respective assessments of climate-related health impacts and shared mid- to long-term strategic plans for adaptation.

The High-Level Roundtable, attended by global public health leaders and experts* from diverse sectors, provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on "Global Perspectives and Future Challenges in Climate Change and Health Sector" across local, regional, national, and global levels. 

* Secretary General Heesup Lee, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)

 Professor Hashizume Masahiro, University of Tokyo

 Director Eduardo Banzon, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

 Director Vincent Bretin, Unitaid

 Chief Scientific Officer Isabel Oliver, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

 Director General Jinhee Oh, Department of Health Hazard Response, KDCA

Recognizing the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events as significant threats to public health, the KDCA has actively engaged in public communication to mitigate climate-related health damage. To ensure timely and effective engagement, the KDCA regularly organizes policy forums, such as the Climate and Health Forum and Healthy Society Forum, which focus on critical topics, including health threats driven by climate change and strategies for effective response.

Moreover, the KDCA is implementing the Mid- to Long-Term Climate and Health Strategy 2024-2028 to enhance health resilience against climate change and is regularly conducting Climate and Health Assessments* to produce foundational data for policymaking related to climate change and health.

* The first assessment was implemented in 2021 and the assessment is carried out every five years.

‘Sustainable development, including through climate change response,’ was declared as one of the key joint agendas in the six areas of cooperation discussed at the Ninth ROK-Japan-China Trilateral Summit held on May 27, 2024. The summit emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration among neighboring countries to address the climate crisis and disasters, as well as fostering practical cooperation and support through collaborative bodies in the field of climate and health.

In response, the three countries will expand the expert network on global climate and health and jointly address the climate crisis by establishing a global action plan, implementing policy changes and setting priorities. This initiative aims to create comprehensive collaborative frameworks and establish legal and institutional infrastructures to tackle public health challenges posed by the climate crisis and to enhance preparedness and response capabilities.

Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, “To address the climate crisis, it is essential to strengthen global networks to enable the continuous sharing of knowledge and experiences.” She added, “We will elevate ‘climate and health’ as a national priority agenda and actively promote regular expert discussions on policymaking and research and development.”

* For detailed information, please refer to the press release written in the Korean language in the file attached below.