Health and Climate Placed to Top Priority in World Health Assembly's Resolution

An adult and child stand in a greenhouse among rows of plants with yellow fruits, examining something together as the child holds a tablet.

In a historic move, the World Health Assembly has approved a resolution that positions health and climate as top priorities, signaling a significant shift towards intensified efforts against climate change—one of humanity's most pressing challenges. This resolution sets the stage for comprehensive action to safeguard public health in the face of a warming planet.

An adult and child stand in a greenhouse among rows of plants with yellow fruits, examining something together as the child holds a tablet. This image, submitted to the WMO 2024 Calendar Competition by Pramod Kanakath, underscores the vital intersection of health, agriculture, and technology in combating climate change.

On June 1, the closing day of the Assembly, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo joined WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other global health leaders in a Strategic Roundtable on climate change and health. This event aimed to drive momentum and shape the global health framework for addressing climate change.

Former US Vice President Al Gore emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis. Azerbaijan's Minister of Healthcare, Teymur Musayev, highlighted the importance of collaboration between health and environment ministers, while health ministers from Fiji and Cabo Verde called for climate change and health justice, particularly for island states.

Celeste Saulo stated, "National Meteorological Services can be your frontline partners to plan and become more resilient to extreme weather and climate change impacts. They provide reliable data, information, and authoritative early warnings. Our collaborations need to go deeper to help understand disease changes and health emergencies."

A WMO report from last year, created in collaboration with WHO, revealed that while 74% of National Meteorological Services supply climate data to the health sector, only 23% of Health Ministries utilize this information for health surveillance. "This gap is too big," said Saulo.

Saulo highlighted the potential of heat health warning systems, which WHO found could save nearly 100,000 lives annually by informing the public about dangerous heat conditions. Yet, only 26 Health Ministries currently report having such systems to WHO. Improving this is crucial for the Early Warnings for All initiative, she emphasized.

The Assembly coincided with severe heatwaves in South Asia, with temperatures in New Delhi nearing 50°C. "This is not livable, and hundreds of millions are suffering both indoors and outdoors. Dangerous heat is making people sick and straining hospitals and communities. This will become more common as the climate warms, driving more drought, wildfires, and poor air quality. Climate change is sabotaging public health progress," she warned.

In a symbolic moment, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Celeste Saulo shook hands in front of WHO banners, reaffirming their commitment to joint efforts.

The new WHA resolution mandates WHO and its members to intensify actions on health and climate. The WHO's 14th General Programme of Work will integrate climate considerations across all levels.

The resolution calls on Member States to integrate climate data into existing health monitoring and surveillance systems, promote intersectoral cooperation, and address the links between environment, economy, health, nutrition, and sustainable development. It recognizes climate change as a major threat to global health and supports WHO's call for global climate action to promote health and build resilient health systems.

WHO is urged to collaborate with the broader UN system and other partners to foster integrated, gender-equal, and coherent actions on climate change and health, aligned with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

This resolution aligns with the World Meteorological Congress resolution on integrating climate, environment, and health sciences and services. In 2023, WMO members endorsed a 10-year plan to enhance collaboration with WHO and the health sector, addressing challenges like extreme heat, infectious diseases, and nutritional insecurity, and meeting Nationally Determined Contributions.