The Minister of Refugees, Labor, Health and Social Protection from the Occupied Territories, Mikheil Sarjveladze continues an official visit to Azerbaijan. He took part in the round table format meeting at the 29th UN climate change conference.
The discussion was held to reduce the impact of climate change on health, share experiences from different countries, identify successful initiatives, and encourage wider implementation.
At the high-level meeting, the Minister of Health made a speech. Mikheil Sarjveladze noted that the Ministry, together with international partners, is actively working on the creation of a system to measure climate impact on health, mitigate impact, and deploy adaptation tools.
“The Ministry of Health is the leading agency in the implementation of a multi-vector heatwave management plan, which was funded by the Asian Development Bank last year.” The plan includes the creation of an early warning system, informing the public about heat wave threats, and improving workplace safety.
Through EU-backed programs, we have been able to develop climate and health data collection and analytics. “This data will help shape our policy on climate change in the healthcare sector in the future,” the Minister of Health said.
Mikheil Sarjveladze also took part in the three-sided meeting of the round table format. During the panel discussion, ministers from different countries, representatives from international organizations, and financial institutions discussed the importance of investing in green jobs and human resource development for a climate-friendly future.
The Minister, in his speech, emphasized the importance of human capital development and noted that to meet the demands of the development industry, it is essential to equip/train the workforce with the necessary skills.
Mikheil Sarjveladze said, “Our common challenge is to create a sustainable future that not only tackles climate change but also creates new opportunities for our population.”
“Green jobs are decent jobs that play an important role in protecting the environment. One of the priorities of our ministry is to promote the employment of citizens, especially marginalized groups. Employment services include Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs, as well as helping job seekers in selecting jobs, through our digital platform Worknet. In addition, we are partnering with the World Bank under the human capital program to further improve these services. An important component of the system will be identifying and supporting the skills needed for green jobs, which will help us connect labor market demands and workforce opportunities,” Mikheil Sarjveladze said.
Zurab Pataradze participates in high-level meetings, along with the Minister, Ambassador of Georgia’s Emergency and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
