The United Nations Climate Change Conference Baku (COP29) marked a significant milestone in the global effort to integrate health and climate action.
At the heart of this progress was a high-level event, COP Presidencies bringing Health at the Centre of Climate Agenda, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Spain, Azerbaijan, and the COP29 Presidency, according to a statement issued by the WHO on Monday.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasised the importance of elevating health within the climate agenda, stating, “This coalition represents a collective will to prioritize climate and health now and for the future.”
The Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health, co-led by five countries, aims to drive impactful health outcomes from past climate commitments.
Key discussions at COP29 focused on operationalising Climate-Health Financing, showcasing success stories of climate-health synergy, scaling innovative financing mechanisms, and strengthening country-level collaboration.
These efforts aim to enhance resource mobilisation, promote effective strategies, and build adaptive health systems resilient to climate change impacts.
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev highlighted the importance of considering health at future COPs, emphasising the need for synergistic action on climate and health.
