Member States at the 78th World Health Assembly adopted the first-ever draft Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health, covering the period 2025–2028. This marks a significant step in formally acknowledging and strategically addressing the severe health impacts of climate change at a global policy level. The plan aims to provide a strategic framework to guide Member States, the WHO Secretariat, and other stakeholders in developing climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, enhancing surveillance and early warning systems for climate-related health risks, protecting vulnerable populations, and, crucially, integrating health considerations into climate policy and financing mechanisms.
This latter objective signals an important shift towards mainstreaming health as a central component of national climate action plans, potentially unlocking new funding streams for health system adaptation and mitigation under climate finance. The adoption affirms climate action as a strategic health priority, not merely an environmental one.
However, the development of "low-carbon health systems" presents a considerable challenge, as the healthcare sector itself is a notable contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and will require substantial investment and innovation. It was also noted that some Member States felt more time and dialogue were needed to reach full consensus on certain principles and language within the action plan, suggesting potential future complexities in its uniform implementation.
Source: WHO