Health Enters COP30 Climate Talks

When you think of climate change, the conversations lead with forests and emissions, and sometimes health might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Opening today’s agenda at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, was the launch of the Belém Health Action Plan.

It is the first global climate adaptation framework focused entirely on protecting human health.

The plan provides concrete actions for countries to strengthen their health systems against climate pressures already affecting millions. Extreme heat, air pollution, food insecurity, and climate-sensitive diseases are increasing across regions.

Health systems are under growing pressure to respond effectively.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said that health has “for too long been a footnote in climate negotiations,” while UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell added that “Humanity can only win this global climate fight if we connect stronger climate actions to people’s top priorities in their daily lives.  And there are few higher priorities than our health.”

To support these efforts, more than 35 philanthropic organisations have pledged 300 million dollars to support the plan.

The funds will target extreme heat, air pollution and climate-sensitive infectious diseases and will strengthen health data systems to guide emergency responses and resilience-building.