Jakarta – The health sector, which should be at the forefront of maintaining public health, is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing around 5 per cent, according to AstraZeneca Indonesia President Director Esra Erkomay. She also said that the impact of climate change on health is increasingly evident, with an increase in various chronic diseases such as respiratory disorders and heart disease.
“Climate change is worsening global health conditions, and at the same time, the health sector itself contributes to climate change through GHG emissions,” she said in a written statement on Monday, September 9.
To reduce the health sector’s negative impact on the environment, AstraZeneca has started various green initiatives, one of which is the AZ Forest program, which aims to rehabilitate forests and increase biodiversity.
“To date, we have planted more than 7.5 million trees on 19,000 hectares of land, involving more than 71,000 farmers,” Esra said.
She added that AstraZeneca has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment to plant up to 20 million trees along the Citarum River.
Esra emphasised that cross-sector collaboration is key in addressing this climate challenge, adding that “collaboration between the government, private sector and communities is essential to drive innovative solutions that have real impact”.
Penta-helix collaboration for sustainability
Meanwhile, Nani Hendiarti, Deputy for Environment and Forestry Management at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, stated that Indonesia’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner cannot be achieved without support from the health and private sectors.
“Cross-sector collaboration, or penta-helix, between the government, private sector, academia, community, and media, is very important to ensure sustainability can be achieved as a whole,” said Nani.
She continued that strong synergy among various parties will be the main foundation for achieving long-term goals for the welfare of people and the earth.
With increasing attention to climate change impacts, the health sector is now expected to focus on curing diseases and play an active role in climate change mitigation. Concrete steps and continuous innovation from the sector are expected to reduce their contribution to GHG emissions and help build a healthier and greener future.
“It’s time to act. Every small step we take today will shape a better future for generations,” Esra concluded. (Hartatik)
