In response to rapid climate change, the World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a new Operational Framework for the development of low-carbon, climate-resilient health systems. Released ahead of the upcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (CP28) conference, this comprehensive framework is designed to increase the resilience of health systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help protect public health around the world.

“Around the world, health systems are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but they also contribute to climate change,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General. “Therefore, we have a dual responsibility: to build a health system that is able to withstand climate-related crises while reducing its carbon footprint. “This framework offers countries a roadmap to do just that.”

As temperatures rise around the world and extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for climate-resilient health systems becomes increasingly important. The WHO Framework offers a visionary pathway to address these challenges, with the primary mission of protecting and improving public health in the face of an unstable and changing climate.

In addition, it emphasizes optimizing resource use and implementing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while still prioritizing climate resilience. This framework offers the health sector the opportunity to lead by example by reducing greenhouse gas emissions – which represent around 5% of total global emissions – while continuing to improve the quality of services.

The framework presents multiple pathways for health systems to strengthen climate resilience and decarbonize based on overall performance, greenhouse gas emission levels, and climate change and health capacity. This includes systems in low-income countries that must improve their access to energy and health services to provide universal health coverage. Developing low-carbon, climate-resilient health systems contributes to WHO’s commitment to providing safe and quality health services, while helping to combat the root causes of climate change.

The main objectives of the WHO framework are:

• guiding professionals in the health sector to, through collaboration, address climate change-related health risks;
• strengthen the functioning of the health system related to climate resilience and low-carbon health approaches;
• support the development of specific interventions for climate risk reduction and emissions reduction, and
• define roles and responsibilities health decision makers regarding climate resilience.

The benefits of implementing the Framework extend far beyond the healthcare sector. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing health system resilience, we contribute to the goals of universal health coverage (UHC), global health security, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This framework was developed following calls from Ministers of Health in more than 75 countries for WHO to support the creation of sustainable health systems that are low carbon and climate resilient. These countries joined the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) during the presidency of the United Kingdom of Great and Northern Ireland at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP26), held in November 2021. The UK and WHO then officially established ATACH in June 2022 to advance this ambitious program.

This comprehensive document is not only a roadmap for health organizations and authorities, but also a valuable resource for decision makers in critical health sectors. Public health agencies, policy makers and specialized agencies can benefit from the ideas and strategies described in this Framework.

The WHO Operational Framework for the Development of Climate Resilient and Low-Carbon Health Systems is part of a sustainable health sector plan that can stand the test of time. This provides a clear picture for health systems to protect society in the context of ongoing climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to achieving global health goals.

At COP28, which will also include a day specifically dedicated to health, this historic event will highlight the importance of incorporating public health priorities into climate discussions.