Healthcare and social welfare must systematically prepare for climate change

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

25.5.2021 10.00

Press release

Climate change is projected to increase health risks all across the world and especially in developing countries. Climate change may affect the functioning and operational reliability of healthcare also in Finland. Risk prevention requires healthcare and social welfare to prepare for and adapt to changes in a timely fashion. The newly completed Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the healthcare and social welfare sector, extending until 2031, may be used as an asset in these efforts.

Although the effects of climate change extend over a long time horizon, they are already visible to a certain extent. Consequently, alongside curbing emissions it is vital also that adaptation measures be launched now rather than later. Well placed in terms of both climate and economy, Finland as a developed society is fully capable of accomplishing this. Systematic adaptation nonetheless calls for an adequate knowledge base.

The new Adaptation Plan provides a foundation for initiating systematic adaptation, increasing risk awareness and safeguarding the functioning of healthcare and social welfare also in the future.

Adaptation Plan provides examples of adaptation measures

Adaptation measures must be sufficiently proactive and take into account also rapidly developing changes with regard to e.g. extreme weather conditions. In Finland, the effects of climate change vary regionally, which is why the regional and local perspective must be taken into account in adaptation measures.

The Adaptation Plan contains 42 objectives and 92 related recommendations for measures. The objectives concern topics including a heatwave warning system, various guidelines and action plans, examination of the effects of climate change and adaptation measures, and intersectoral action. Education and training and communications are also catered for.

The focus in the Adaptation Plan is on health protection and the adaptation of healthcare in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Adaptation Plan seeks to assess the current state of adaptation in Finland and the structures supporting it and to identify existing and new adaptation measures in the health and wellbeing sector.

Designed to serve as a practical tool, the Adaptation Plan will add to the volume of guidelines relating to climate change in the healthcare and social welfare sector. The Adaptation Plan was prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in cooperation with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health TTL.

Inquiries:

Mikko Paunio, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Medical Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@stm.fi, tel. +358 50 5771968
Päivi Meriläinen, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL, firstname.lastname@thl.fi, tel. +358 29 524 7826