Supporting countries to protect human health from climate change

WHO has been working on climate change and health for over 25 years and has developed a comprehensive approach aiming to support countries to assess and manage the health impacts posed by climate variability and change. 

WHO’s approach aims to strengthen national capacities and improve the resilience and adaptive capacity of health systems to deal with the adverse health effects of climate change.

The package of technical support being provided by WHO to Member States ranges from specific topics (e.g. development of plans and strategies or climate-informed health early warning systems) to more programmatic approaches to those countries implementing projects on climate change and health.

The key initiatives and projects by which WHO assists Member States and partners on climate change and health are: 

• Conducting climate change and health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments (V&As);
• Development and implementation of the health component of National Adaptation Plans (H-NAPs);
• Country projects on climate change and health;
• Strengthen the climate  resilience of health systems;
• Strengthen the climate resilience and environmental sustainability of healthcare facilities;
• Streamline financial resources for health and climate change;
• Develop tools, guidance and training packages on climate change and health;
• Integrated surveillance and climate-informed health early warning systems;
• WHO Special Initiative on climate change and health in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS);
• COP26 Health Initiatives on Climate Resilient and Low Carbon, Sustainable Health Systems.