The document outlines 10 public health priorities for climate action presented at COP26. These include committing to a healthy recovery from COVID-19, promoting energy and food systems that improve health and climate, and financing initiatives to build climate-resilient health systems. Most countries have developed climate and health plans, but implementation and funding remain low challenges. The WHO is supporting countries through a new COP26 Health Programme to commit to climate-resilient health systems and sustainable low-carbon health systems, with over 50 countries committing so far.

1. The Public Health Response to the
Climate Crisis
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum
World Health Organization

2. Public Health Priorities for Climate Change

3. Health “Prescriptions” to UNFCCC COP26
1. Commit to a healthy recovery
2. Our health is not negotiable
3. Promote healthy climate commitments
4. Build climate resilient health systems
5. Create energy systems that protect
and improve climate and health
6. Reimagine urban environments,
transport, and mobility
7. Protect and restore nature as the
foundation of our health
8. Promote healthy, sustainable, and
resilient food systems
9. Finance a healthier, fairer, and greener
future to save lives
10. Listen to the health community and
prescribe urgent climate action

4. 3. Promote healthy climate commitments
Prioritize those climate interventions with the largest health gains

5. 10 components to build
climate-resilient health
systems
Health access to
climate finance
Health workers trained,
engaged on climate
Climate informed
surveillance systems
Resilient, sustainable health
facilities
WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate-Resilient Health
Systems (2015)
4. Build Climate Resilient Health Systems

6. 6 |
10 components to build
climate-resilient health
systems
Significant climate and health adaptation projects
(>$US500,000/country)

7. 77% national CCH
plans/strategies in
place or under
development
About two thirds of
these countries
reported the national
health and climate
change plan or
strategy was
developed as part of
their NAP process.
Most countries have
climate & health assessments and plans

8. Implementation is moderate/low
Financial support is extremely low
0.5%
99.5%
Health projects
Non-health
projects
Level of
implementation of
National Climate &
Health Strategy or Plan
Allocation of
multilateral climate
finance to health

9. 9. Finance a healthier, fairer, and greener future to save lives
Main challenges to implementing National Health Adaptation Plans (WHO, 2021)

10. New momentum through COP26 Health Programme
January 2022
10
Priority 1. Climate resilient health systems* Priority 2. Sustainable low carbon health systems** Net zero commitment
Countries
committed
• Argentina
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Central African
Republic
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt,
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Germany
• Ghana
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Lao PDR
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Maldives
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Peru
• Rwanda
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Sierra Leone
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunisia
• UAE
• Uganda
• UK
• USA
• Yemen
• Argentina
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Central African Republic
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Germany
• Ghana
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Lao PDR
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Maldives
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Peru
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Sierra Leone
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunisia
• UAE
• Uganda
• UK
• USA,
• Yemen
• Belgium, 2050
• Fiji, 2045
• Indonesia, 2045
• Jordan, 2050
• Kenya, 2030
• Malawi, 2030
• Morocco, 2050
• Nigeria, 2035
• Peru, 2050
• Sao Tome and Principe, 2050
• Spain, 2050
• Sierra Leone, 2035
• UK, 2040
• Yemen, 2050
Total 50 46 14
*Climate resilient health systems – This initiative aims to gather country commitments to develop national health and climate change strategies which are based on an assessment of the vulnerability and adaptive
capacity of that countries’ health system to climate change.
**Sustainable low carbon health systems – Countries commit to decarbonise health systems, including setting a date to achieve net zero, conducting an assessment of emissions, and developing a roadmap
for how decarbonisation will be achieved.

11. WHO Climate Change and Health Programme: Country Support