Speaking at the Health and Climate Ministerial Meeting at COP30 in Belém, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized a critical truth: humanity can only win the climate fight by linking stronger climate actions to the priorities that matter most to people — their health.
“In a city like Belém, in the Amazon, we are reminded of the deep connection between human health and the health of our planet,” Stiell said. He highlighted that rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and storms are no longer distant threats — they are daily realities, claiming lives, fueling disease, and overwhelming health systems globally.
The statistics are stark. Heat-related deaths have surged 23% since the 1990s, now exceeding half a million annually, according to the latest Lancet Countdown Report. Vulnerable populations — children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions — bear the heaviest burden.
“Every measure that strengthens resilience, cuts emissions, or protects ecosystems is also a public health intervention,” Stiell noted. Cleaner air, safer water, sustainable food systems, and resilient infrastructure create a “triple win” for health, the economy, and the climate.
Under the Paris Agreement and the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, countries have committed to protecting populations from climate-related health risks. Encouragingly, over 90% of national climate plans now include health considerations, and every National Adaptation Plan submitted since 2024 addresses health risks, from heat stress to infectious diseases.
Yet challenges remain. Fragile health systems, inadequate infrastructure, and limited climate-trained personnel continue to leave communities exposed to extreme weather events.
Stiell highlighted the launch of the Belém Health Action Plan, led by Brazil and the World Health Organization. Centered on adaptation, equity, and climate justice, it provides a unified framework for strengthening health-sector adaptation in line with the Global Goal on Adaptation and the UAE–Belém Work Programme.
“The Belém Health Action Plan gives us the blueprint. What we need now is sustained, coordinated, and well-financed action to turn its promises into protection for all,” Stiell said.
Partnerships, according to Stiell, are crucial to achieving results. The newly launched Climate and Health Funders Coalition has committed an initial $300 million to accelerate integrated action addressing climate change and health.
Innovative collaborations, such as the UN Climate Change partnership with the Wellcome Trust, will ensure robust evidence informs climate policy, targeting challenges like extreme heat, air pollution, infectious diseases, mental health, and food insecurity.
Stiell concluded with a powerful reminder: “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.”
At COP30, the climate and health nexus is not just an idea — it is an urgent, actionable agenda to protect lives and build resilience for a warming world.