The Mounting Health Impacts of a Warming World

With global temperatures already exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the health consequences are becoming increasingly severe. The report reveals that 3.3 to 3.6 billion people currently reside in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, facing heightened risks from heatwaves, floods, droughts, and infectious diseases. Hospitals are experiencing a 41% increase in the risk of damage from extreme weather compared to 1990, threatening their ability to provide essential care.

Without significant and rapid decarbonization efforts, the number of health facilities at risk could double by mid-century. This underscores the critical importance of proactive adaptation measures to safeguard health infrastructure and ensure continued access to healthcare services. The health sector itself contributes approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating a swift transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient systems. Healthcare’s Climate Footprint is a significant contributor to the problem, and reducing it is paramount.

The report also identifies critical gaps in current adaptation strategies. Only 54% of national health adaptation plans adequately assess risks to health facilities. Furthermore, a concerning lack of equity is evident, with fewer than 30% of health adaptation studies considering income levels, 20% accounting for gender, and less than 1% including the needs of people with disabilities.

“The evidence is clear: protecting health systems is one of the smartest investments any country can make,” emphasized Professor Nick Watts, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group and Director, NUS Centre for Sustainable Medicine. “Allocating just 7% of adaptation finance to health would safeguard billions of people and keep essential services operating during climate shocks – when our patients most need them.”

Progress is being made, with the number of countries implementing national Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) doubling between 2015 and 2023, now covering roughly two-thirds of the global population. However, significant disparities remain, with only 46% of Least Developed Countries and 39% of Small Island Developing States having effective early warning systems in place.

The central message of the report is unequivocal: the time for action is now. Cost-effective, high-impact interventions exist to address the challenges outlined in the Belém Health Action Plan. However, adaptation strategies will be insufficient unless they address the underlying causes of health inequity, both within healthcare systems and across society. What role do you believe international cooperation will play in addressing these inequities?

A companion report, Social participation, climate and health: a special report to support implementation of the Belém Health Action Plan, emphasizes the crucial role of social participation, governance, and community engagement in building climate-resilient health systems.

“By releasing this report, Brazil and WHO reaffirm the importance of COP30 as the COP of Truth,” stated Dr. Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Health, Brazil. “The report provides clear data and evidence that climate change is already directly affecting health systems around the world. Recent tragedies show that now is the time to implement policies and actions that address the impacts of climate change on health. The Belém Health Action Plan and this report offer countries the tools they need to turn scientific evidence into concrete action.”

Together, these reports provide a comprehensive roadmap for translating the Belém Health Action Plan’s objectives into tangible results – one focused on evidence-based implementation, the other on inclusive participation and societal leadership.

Understanding the Belém Health Action Plan

The Belém Health Action Plan, a cornerstone of Brazil’s COP30 Presidency, is built upon the principles of health equity, ‘climate justice,’ and strong leadership and governance with active social participation.

The Plan outlines three key lines of action for building climate-resilient health systems:

• Surveillance and monitoring, focused on strengthening integrated and climate-informed health surveillance systems.
• Evidence-based policies, strategies and capacity-building, aimed at enhancing the ability of national and local systems to implement effective, equity-driven solutions.
• Innovation, production, and digital health, promoting research, development, and access to technologies that address the diverse health needs of populations.

The COP30 special report was developed under the guidance of an Expert Advisory Group, chaired by the NUS Centre for Sustainable Medicine and led by the WHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Drawing on over 70 case studies worldwide, the report identifies practical interventions already yielding positive results – from early warning systems and green hospital design to climate-informed health planning and sustainable financing. How can we accelerate the adoption of these proven interventions globally?

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