The government is launching a new project to measure the health impacts of climate change. This effort aims to merge climate and health data into early warning systems. The initiative is crucial, especially in Africa, where current information on these interactions is often scattered.
Extreme weather, rising temperatures, and poor air quality due to climate change are significant global issues affecting health. This new system will help predict health crises, like spikes in diseases related to contaminated water and increased air pollution.
Experts stress the importance of reliable data for effective climate and health strategies. Aimable Gahigi, Director General of the Rwanda Meteorology Agency, highlighted that scientists from 23 countries met in Kigali to discuss how to better track the health impacts of climate change.
“There are clear health risks from climate change,” Gahigi said. “Heatwaves, floods, and diseases are not just statistics; they’re affecting people daily.” He emphasized that having solid data is crucial for timely and effective public health responses.
The initiative, called Standards for Official Statistics on Climate Health Interactions (SOSCHI), is backed by a UN expert group. Its goal is to improve global research on climate and health, fill knowledge gaps, and enhance national monitoring.
The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) is leading this project, in partnership with the AIMS Research and Innovation Centre in Rwanda and the Regional Institute for Population Studies in Ghana, thanks to funding from the Wellcome organization. The project will establish a statistical framework and an online platform with essential indicators.
Gahigi expressed pride in Rwanda’s role as a pilot country. “We’re working on integrating these indicators into our national statistics to ensure ongoing, reliable data collection,” he noted.
The initiative focuses on ten main topics, including extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases like malaria, and mental health impacts. Studies show a link between climate factors and diseases such as malaria and diarrheal illnesses, with rising temperatures increasing risks.
Juliet Kabera, Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority, pointed out that data sharing remains a challenge. “Without accessible data, we struggle to build a resilient approach,” she said.
Fidèle Bingwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, added that health and climate data will help secure the needed funding for public health. “Connecting climate change and public health through reliable data is vital,” he said.
Lucinda Eggleton, Director of Health and International at the UK ONS, noted the importance of monitoring climate impacts on health. “Understanding these interactions through data can help us create better health policies,” she stated.
At the recent COP30 summit, the World Health Organization emphasized the need for stronger monitoring to prevent climate-related health impacts. The SOSCHI framework aims to provide a solid statistical basis for these health measures, and it has been recognized by the UN as part of global climate-change indicators.
The Kigali declaration stressed the importance of implementing SOSCHI indicators in national systems to enhance climate and health strategies. It called for improved data collection, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Christian Muragijimana, a Senior Research Analyst in climate adaptation, remarked, “You can’t adapt without proper metrics. It’s essential to base our policies on the real data these indicators provide.”
Rwanda is making strides in climate adaptation, but lessons from various contexts are crucial for shaping these indicators to fit African needs. He concluded that integrating climate action into public health strategies is not just beneficial; it’s necessary.
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