The Experience of the Caribbean in the Lead up to Rio+20 and the Involvement of Health Looking Back and Looking Forward H. Elizabeth Thompson Assistant Secretary General - United Nations & Executive Coordinator-UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

Rio+20 conference On Sustainable Development The objectives Conference  to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development  assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development  address new and emerging challenges

Conference Themes  Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication  The institutional framework for sustainable development

Setting the Historical Context: The Rio Platform “Agenda 21,” the Outcome Document of the iconic Earth Conference of 1992 contained a chapter on health. “Protecting and Promoting Human Health,”  Meeting Primary Health Care Needs Particularly In Rural Areas  Control of Communicable Diseases  Protecting Vulnerable Groups  Meeting the Urban Health Challenge  Reducing Health Risks from Environmental Pollution and Hazards

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  End poverty and hunger  Gender Equity  Child Health  Maternal Health  Environmental Sustainability  Combat HIV/AIDS  Universal Education  Global Partnership

Where We Are Now: Health Challenges in the Caribbean  Aging population – diseases of old age and impacts on social care systems (national insurance etc.) against a narrow band of population defined as young  Chronic non-communicable diseases – morbidity, mortality, family and social costs  Diseases related to climate/pollution – allergies, asthma, dengue fever, post hurricane/flood problems

Where We Are Now: Health Challenges in the Caribbean C’td  HIV/AIDS  Maternal and child health - % of live births per 100,000  The cost of health care – especially in the context of shrinking national budgets and government expenditure

Expected Outcomes of Rio+20  Document for universal sustainable development  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  Urgency re water, oceans, food security/sovereignty, energy  Enlarged understanding of planetary boundaries/critical thresholds  Principles for development of a green economy (within national policy and constraints)  Consideration of financial issues and GDP+

Identifying Priorities for the Caribbean  Defining the green economy – investments in human, social and natural capital including health and education and health education  Dealing with elderly and youth  Investing in primary health care – prevention and early intervention  Effecting behavioural change – NCDs and HIV

Identifying Priorities for the Caribbean c’td  Food and nutrition challenge of both under- nutrition and over nutrition  Water – water stress and scarcity in the Caribbean, access to potable water and water for development  Energy – fuel for life  Oceans – as they relate to Caribbean health statistics, protein consumption, jobs and oceans as critical maritime territory

Identifying Priorities for the Caribbean c’td  Consider and review the National Regional and International mechanisms and institutions for delivering on the agenda  Getting appropriate language included in the text  Ensuring that health is one of the SDGs  Compendium of Commitments

Central to the successful management of health issues  Empowering Caribbean people to make decisions about their own health  Strengthening national policy formulation and delivery  Collaborating on cross-regional approaches  The regional approach should be Rio++ so that the region has its own approach irrespective of the Rio outcome

The Divide

Barbados

St. Lucia Petit Piton

Boat Building in Guadeloupe

St Martin (French side) at twilight