On 4th October 2024, the United Green Movement (UGM) Party hosted its first Greens Cocktail Event, centering on the crucial intersection between Climate Change and Health. This event is part of the UGM’s broader vision, which prioritizes environmental sustainability through its pillar on the environment, exploring how climate change affects all aspects of life, particularly the well-being and livelihoods of Kenyans.
The event opened with remarks from UGM Co-Party Leader, Hon. Neto Agostinho, who stressed that the party is committed to professionalizing politics. “As Greens,” he noted, “we are engaging in politics that will make a real difference, driven by ideology and evidence.” He emphasized that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but one that profoundly impacts health—a theme explored throughout the evening.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), who painted a stark picture of the growing health crisis linked to climate change. According to Dr. Atellah, climate change impacts are accelerating more rapidly than anticipated, with dire consequences. He pointed out projections that between 2030 and 2050, up to 250,000 additional deaths per year could occur due to climate-related causes such as undernutrition, malaria, and heat stress.
Dr. Atellah highlighted that 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history, surpassing even the extreme temperatures of 2022, and warned that 2024 could be worse. He stressed that rising temperatures and extreme weather events are not only disrupting economies but also overwhelming Kenya’s fragile health systems. Cases of heat-related deaths have surged by 85%, while the geographical spread of diseases like malaria is expanding due to shifting weather patterns, particularly in regions like Turkana and Garissa.
He also emphasized the significant strain placed on Kenya’s healthcare system by climate-induced conditions. Increased respiratory diseases, worsened by air pollution, and the psychological stress linked to climate change, are overwhelming an already under-resourced, ill-equipped healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, with the looming shift from **NHIF to SHIF**, the affordability and accessibility of healthcare are under threat, particularly for uninsured Kenyans.
Dr. Atellah called for immediate investment in resilient healthcare systems that can withstand the shocks of climate conditions. He urged for more research and community-driven policies to ensure that interventions are targeted, relevant, and effective. Climate resilience, he argued, could act as a critical buffer in mitigating the health impacts of climate change. He pledged, as KMPDU Secretary General, to continue advocating for fortified healthcare systems that leave no Kenyan behind.
Following Dr. Atellah’s keynote, the event featured a panel discussion moderated by UGM Director of Ecological Wisdom, Ms. Lillian Mulupi. The panelists were Dr. Marie-Claire Wangari, a General Practitioner and the former president for the Young Doctors Network at the Kenya Medical Association (2022-2024). She is currently the chair for the World Medical Association, Junior Doctors Network, now vying for her second term. She was joined by Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda, a psychiatrist and former Secretary General of KMPDU, who is an expert in health policy and a strong advocate for mental health awareness.
The panel delved into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on health, discussing issues ranging from reproductive health to mental health. They pointed out that regions like those facing droughts are especially vulnerable to communicable diseases, malnutrition, and poor hygiene, which climate change only exacerbates. Pollution, exacerbated by weak enforcement of regulations, was highlighted as a growing cause of respiratory illnesses.
The panelists also discussed how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly in terms of food insecurity, lack of access to prenatal care, and rising instances of vector-borne diseases. For example, the recent floods in May 2024 triggered climate anxieties and psychological stress in affected communities, particularly in peri-urban areas.
The panel concluded with a strong call to action: solutions to climate-related health crises must involve both policy reform, personal responsibility and grassroots community action. They stressed that proper implementation of Kenya’s many environmental policies is critical. Beyond government efforts, communities and individuals also have a vital role in climate adaptation and mitigation.
The conversation shifted to the role of individuals in reducing carbon emissions and fostering a green lifestyle. Dr. Wangari and Dr. Mwachonda advocated for sustainable practices, such as **greening homes, promoting e-mobility**, and improving mental health support in response to climate stress. The panelists underscored that addressing climate change begins with raising awareness and building community capacity.
As Greens, the UGM Party is creating spaces for critical conversations on how climate change intersects with various aspects of life—especially health. The Greens Cocktail Event aims to engage professionals and the public in dialogues that inspire action aligned with the party’s manifesto on environmental sustainability.
Through events like these, the UGM hopes to empower a climate-conscious citizenry, and a political landscape that prioritizes issue-based politics over short-term gains. Ultimately, the UGM envisions a nation that holds its leaders accountable and takes decisive action toward a greener, healthier future for all.
Look out for the next Greens Cocktail Event on Climate Change and the Built Environment happening on 18th October, 2024! More details to follow.