The Lancet Planetary Health, April 2025

From health assemblies to climate negotiations: youth perspectives on existing gaps in global climate action

The well-documented health effects of the climate crisis pose a growing threat to global health and at-risk communities. However, the intersection of Climate Change and Health (CCH) has only recently become central in international negotiations, despite sustained efforts from civil society.

The adoption of the CCH Resolution at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), and its inclusion in WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work4 represents a crucial step forward in acknowledging CCH interconnections. Occurring between the 28th and 30th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the resolution, along with WHO’s Global Plan of Action (GPoA) on CCH (to be discussed at the 78th WHA), strengthens global CCH commitment, building on COP28 milestones, including the first Health Day and the Health Declaration endorsed by 151 countries. These health-focused initiatives align UNFCCC’s mandate with health targets, making COP29 and COP30 crucial for integrating health into the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework, Long-term Low Emission Development Strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and National Adaptation Plans.