World Health Assembly calls for scaling up efforts to address health risks from climate change
The World Health Assembly (WHA), at its 77th session held in Geneva from 22 to 31 May 2024, adopted a landmark resolution recognizing climate change as an imminent threat to global public health and calling for urgent action to address its adverse health effects.
The resolution, adopted by an overwhelming majority of Member States, highlights the serious health risks posed by climate change and the need for radical action to protect the health of the planet, underscoring the inextricable link between environmental sustainability and public health.
The WHA, as the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), called for scaling up current efforts to combat climate change. This includes prioritizing health considerations in national and international climate policy frameworks, as well as supporting countries in building low-carbon and climate-resilient health systems.
By strengthening capacity building and providing technical support to health ministries, the actions agreed upon by the WHA will enable countries to implement robust and climate-adaptive health initiatives, tailored to their specific contexts and guiding cross-sectoral actions that promote health and contribute to improved health for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This resolution marks a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change and underscores the urgent need for collective action to protect human health and the planet Earth.
