Monday, September 22, 2008

Malaysia calls for innovative financing mechanisms for climate change and health

Xinhua: Malaysian deputy Prime Minister calls for innovative financing mechanisms on the issue of climate change and health here on Thursday. According to the International Panel for Climate Change (PICC), climate change is now contributing significantly to the global burden of disease and premature deaths.

"Substantial finance and investments are needed to meet the urgent challenges of mitigation, adaptation and access to clean energy in developing countries," Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak said at the opening ceremony of the Asia Pacific Health Ministers' Conference on Climate Change and Health. Multilateral development banks and other development agencies need to support countries in this endeavor, he added.

"We welcome the establishment of the Climate Investment Funds, including the Clean Technology Fund and the Strategic Climate Fund, presently administered by the World Bank," Najib said. "There must also be non-developmental financing mechanisms that could be sourced by developing countries, particularly in building human resource capacity and health-specific adaptation strategies and programs," he said….

Flag of Malaysia, Wikimedia Commons

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