WHO regional director launches Climate and Health push ahead of COP31

The World Health Organization's Western Pacific regional director, Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, has underscored the critical link between climate change and public health during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Dr. Piukala emphasized that the health impacts of the climate crisis are now a central issue, demanding urgent attention and concrete action from nations worldwide. This push comes as countries prepare for COP31, scheduled to be held in Türkiye later this year, where tangible progress on climate and health initiatives will be paramount.

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The health impacts of the Climate crisis are high on the agenda at the 79th World Health Assembly this week in Geneva.

At the heart of this initiative is the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), developed at COP30. Dr. Piukala stressed the necessity for countries to demonstrate real progress on the BHAP, which focuses on integrating health adaptation strategies into climate policy. The plan has garnered significant international backing, endorsed by over 40 countries, and aims to bolster the resilience of health systems against extreme weather events and subsequent disease outbreaks. This collaborative effort highlights a growing global consensus on the interconnectedness of environmental and health security.

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And not a moment too soon.

Furthermore, Dr. Piukala announced the launch of the Climate and Health Co-benefits Challenge. This initiative seeks to collect real-world evidence showcasing how climate actions are yielding measurable health benefits. Supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Pathfinder Initiative, the challenge invites governments, researchers, and organizations to submit their findings. The WHO hopes that by highlighting successful interventions, countries will be inspired to increase investment in climate and health programs, recognizing them as crucial components of sustainable development. This focus on tangible results and evidence-based policy is particularly important for the Asia-Pacific region, which is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

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We must collectively demonstrate progress on the Belém Health Action Plan – BHAP – that emerged last year from COP30, as we prepare for COP31 this November in Antalya, Türkiye.