The impacts of climate change are well-documented, with global consequences manifesting in various forms with health becoming its elusive aspect thereof. This is one critical area that remains inadequately addressed: the intersection of climate change and health.
Health is instrumental since addressing it requires trillions of dollars in global climate action, including efforts to tackle the root causes of the climate crisis and to prepare for and mitigate its effects on communities, health systems, livelihoods, and national economies.
Climate-induced events such as malnutrition, droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera and malaria) are increasingly leading to loss of life, hunger, and other public health emergencies. These crises are often direct outcomes of climate shocks, showcasing the urgent need for integrated solutions.
The importance of the health-climate nexus was highlighted at COP28 in Dubai, where the first-ever Declaration on Climate and Health was adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This milestone marked a recognition of the deep interlinkages between human health and climate decision-making, with the hope that COP29 in Baku will translate these commitments into tangible outcomes for both people and the planet.
During COP28 it became evident that to address these health-climate interconnected challenges, it is critical to focus on mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, all underpinned by adequate and effective financing.
These pillars must be approached collectively: Adaptation and loss and damage are essential in many vulnerable communities, where immediate action and investment are needed to address the existing health impacts of climate change. whereas mitigation is also crucial for without ambitious mitigation measures, the limits of adaptation will be exceeded, leading to catastrophic losses that could be both physical and mental on human health.
Despite the absence of a dedicated negotiating topic on health at COP29, the health agenda must be integrated across all negotiation streams, including climate finance, mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage.
A 2024 report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance, A COP29 for People and Planet, emphasizes the urgency of embedding health-related actions in climate policies. Key recommendations include:
- Health integration in NDCs: Incorporate health and climate actions, targets, and associated economic considerations into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other national policies, supported by strengthened intersectoral coordination.
- Resilient agriculture and ecosystems: Prioritize food systems and land-use policies that protect biodiversity and promote nutrition security. This includes affordable, sustainable, and healthy diets accessible to all.
- Loss and Damage Fund: Capitalize on the Fund to address the health and broader needs of affected communities, while leveraging the Santiago Network to quantify health-related losses and damages.
- Energy transition: Commit to a rapid, fair, and fully funded phase-out of fossil fuels. This includes ending fossil fuel expansion and transitioning to renewable energy as a public health imperative.
The broader public health implications of climate change demand a just transition that not only ensures environmental sustainability but also promotes equitable access to clean energy and resilient health systems. COP29 has a pivotal opportunity to advance these priorities, ensuring ambitious climate actions that safeguard both people and the planet.
