Global Health Assembly Launches Climate and Health Action Plan
Geneva, Sunday, 20 July 2025.
Global leaders endorsed a strategic plan to develop climate-resilient health systems, integrating health considerations into climate policies, addressing climate change’s effects on health.
Introduction to the Climate and Health Action Plan
The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025 marked a historic moment with the adoption of the Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health. The plan, covering the period from 2025 to 2028, acknowledges the urgent need to tackle health impacts caused by climate change. It aims to integrate health considerations into climate policies and strengthen health systems to become effective allies in combating climate change [1].
Strategic Framework for Implementation
This comprehensive plan provides a strategic framework to guide member states, the WHO Secretariat, and other stakeholders in advancing health systems towards greater climate resilience. It emphasizes developing low-carbon, sustainable healthcare systems while protecting vulnerable populations through improved surveillance and early warning systems. Additionally, integrating health into climate-related financing mechanisms is a core component of the plan [2]. Building on commitments from various Conference of the Parties (COPs) and outcomes from the WHO Executive Board meeting in February 2025, the plan supports WHO’s leadership in promoting health as a crucial element of the global climate agenda [1][3].
Long-term Impact on Global Health Systems
The long-term goals of the plan include not only making health systems resilient to climate change but also ensuring they contribute to reduced carbon emissions. By focusing on systemic changes such as optimizing supply chains, reducing emissions, and enhancing nationwide health strategies, the initiative aligns health outcomes directly with climate action [3]. The implementation will see a concerted effort towards establishing national dashboards to track environmental progress and offer comprehensive mental health support for climate-emergency workers [2].
The Path Forward
Looking ahead, the plan’s success largely hinges on coordinated action at both global and local levels. The upcoming 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brasília will further solidify these efforts, setting the stage for discussing and implementing ambitious climate-health goals [4]. These collective efforts underscore health systems’ vital role in climate resilience and highlight the need for innovative solutions and robust collaboration among nations to meet the challenges posed by climate change [1][2][4].