It is not only the direct effects of climate change, such as heatwaves or flooding, that threaten our health. Infectious diseases, allergies, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and skin cancer will also increase. The environment and health are therefore closely linked issues. The German government has therefore decided to implement climate-neutral sustainability in administrative action by 2030 on the basis of the 2030 Agenda. Health insurance companies are also affected by this.
Sustainability has been a concrete topic for the BKK W&F since 2019. While initially it was only about determining the company’s internal ecological footprint and its compensation, far-reaching changes in the actions of the administrative unit are now the focus of efforts. This is because the statutory health insurance funds, as federal direct social security institutions, should at least orient themselves towards the German Federal Government’s program of measures. In addition to classic administrative action, this also includes areas such as mobility and health.
BKK Green Health
Sustainable administrative action is, however, much more than that: the BKK system has been working together on this topic for several years. Even before the publication of the German Federal Government’s program of measures in the Federal Climate Protection Act, company health insurance funds, BKK state associations and the BKK umbrella organization founded the “BKK Green Health” initiative. The aim is to develop a common approach to the issue of ecological and social sustainability. However, it quickly became clear that it is almost impossible for statutory health insurance funds to make the criteria of sustainability and public welfare orientation the benchmark for their actions in addition to the general principle of economy and frugality for the actual care services. An essential task of the initiative is therefore to make it clear to politicians that sustainability and the common good must also find a place in the Social Security Code as a benchmark for the realization of the social rights of our insured persons.
“Agenda 2030” , Climate Protection Act (KSG)
The “Agenda 2030” was unanimously adopted by the United Nations in 2015. With it, the global community has set itself 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. The goals apply universally and equally to all countries. They range from eradicating global hunger to strengthening sustainable consumption and production through to climate protection measures. Health plays a central role in Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” and is closely linked to all other Sustainable Development Goals.
