The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) made significant strides in integrating health into the global climate action agenda, reinforcing the connection between climate change and public health. Building on commitments made at previous COP meetings, the conference advanced the crucial task of addressing the health impacts of climate change through a high-level event titled “COP Presidencies Bringing Health at the Centre of the Climate Agenda”.
The event, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the COP29 Presidency, Azerbaijan, and Spain, highlighted the ongoing need for continuity and synergy in climate-health efforts and strongly emphasized translating past pledges into actionable outcomes.
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Launch of Baku COP Presidencies Coalition for Climate and Health
At COP29, leaders signed a Letter of Intent, officially forming the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health. This coalition, co-led by Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, UAE, and the UK, partners with the WHO to drive health-climate action. It aims to amplify the health-climate agenda and ensure long-term global commitment to integrating health into climate policy.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “This coalition represents a collective will to prioritize climate and health now and for the future.”
By creating a lasting framework for health outcomes, the coalition seeks to maintain momentum on health priorities as COP30 approaches, ensuring continued progress in climate-health integration. The coalition aims to create a lasting framework that drives health outcomes and maintains momentum on health priorities towards COP30.
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Progress and Strategic Objectives for the Future
COP29 reflected on key milestones since COP28’s Health Day, focusing on critical topics aligned with the new coalition’s goals.
One primary focus was on “Operationalizing Climate-Health Financing,” emphasizing resource mobilisation and technical assistance to strengthen health systems and resilience. Another area was “Climate-Health Synergy Success Stories” highlighted strategies and the impact of collaboration to achieve progress in climate-health initiatives.
Leaders also discussed “Scaling Innovative Financing Mechanisms,” focusing on public-private partnerships and new models to support climate-health initiatives. Finally, leaders emphasized “Strengthening Country-Level Collaboration,” focusing on technical assistance and support to enhance health system resilience against climate challenges.
The roundtable discussions allowed governments, organisations, and philanthropies to exchange best practices and identify priorities for global health-climate collaboration. These partnerships are crucial to addressing climate change and public health crises.
As COP29 continues, the newly established coalition will guide global health and climate change efforts through COP30 and beyond. The coalition aims to integrate health into future climate policies and unite the global community to address climate challenges.