University of Coimbra scientist contributes to World Health Organization report presented at COP29
The document outlines key actions to protect people, especially those living in areas most vulnerable to climate change.
Mónica Rodrigues, a scientist at the University of Coimbra (UC), is one of the experts involved in the World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated task force that produced the Special Report on Climate Change and Health, which was presented at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health outlines key actions in three integrated dimensions: people, place and the planet. The report outlines key actions to protect people, especially the estimated 3.6 billion people who live in areas most vulnerable to climate change.
According to the researcher from the UC Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), the report highlights the importance governance that centres health in climate policy-making – and climate in health policy-making – is a fundamental factor in human progress.
The report presents the following recommendations:
- Make human health and well-being the top measure of climate success to catalyse progress and ensure well-being, and ensure people-centred adaptation and resilience;
- End subsidies and dependence on fossil fuels, realigning economic and financial systems to protect human health and the environment, through investment in clean and sustainable alternatives that reduce pollution-related diseases and carbon emissions;
- Mobilise funding for climate-related health initiatives, particularly strengthening healthcare systems' response and supporting healthcare professionals, creating climate-resilient health systems to protect health and save lives;
- Invest in proven solutions, from heat health warning systems and clean household energy sources to effective pricing of fossil fuels, which could save nearly 2 million lives a year;
- Place greater emphasis on the role of cities in health outcomes through more sustainable urban design with clean energy, resilient housing and improved sanitation;
- Strengthen the protection and restoration of nature and biodiversity, recognising the synergistic health benefits of clean air, water quality and food security.
The CEGOT researcher believes COP29 is an important milestone in the global effort to integrate health into climate action plans. Health is the driving force behind climate action, and the quality of health is the benchmark for its inclusion in the climate action commitments, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), published on 7 November. These commitments underline the importance of placing health at the heart of all climate negotiations, strategies, policies and action plans to save lives and ensure a healthier future for present and future generations.
Mónica Rodrigues also highlights that to help countries better integrate health into their climate policies, WHO has published its Quality Criteria for Integrating Health into Climate Action Commitments - Healthy NDCs. These guidelines describe practical actions for ministries of health, environment and other sectors critical to health (such as transport, energy, urban planning, water and sanitation) to Integrate health into their adaptation and mitigation policies and actions.
The report is available for consultation here.