CAREC Working Groups on Health and Climate Change meet in Bishkek

The 6th CAREC Working Group on Health and the 4th CAREC Working Group on Climate Change met on 7-9 April in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Ms. Leah Gutierrez, Director General SD3, opened the joint day of both Working Groups on 8 April and emphasized the importance of multisector collaboration to address health-climate risks. In his opening remarks, the First Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Choro Seyitov, stressed the climate-health nexus for regional health security. The participants of both Working Groups discussed joint deliverables to transition to low-carbon and resilient health systems.

The objectives of the Health Working Group Meeting included sharing best practices for transitioning to low-carbon and resilient health systems, reviewing progress on the CAREC Health Strategy 2030, and how to leverage multisector collaboration through transport, economic corridor development, trade, and other sectors to achieve health outcomes. Participants also discuss coordination mechanisms and financing needs for implementing the Regional Investment Framework for Health (2022–2027).

The CAREC Working Group on Climate Change discussed the operationalization of the CAREC Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and planned for future activities and regional investments. Ms. Dinara Kemelova, Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and Ms. Asel Raimkulova, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic; and Mr. Zheng Wu, ADB Country Director for the Kyrgyz Republic opened the Working Group Meeting.

The two Working Groups are working jointly on a regional decarbonization strategy and minimum standards for climate-resilient health facilities.