COP29: Bridging Health and Climate for a Resilient Future

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) marked a pivotal moment in integrating health into the global climate agenda. Building on the foundation laid at previous COPs, COP29 advanced the commitment to address the interconnected challenges of health and climate change.

A key highlight of the conference was the high-level event, “COP Presidencies Bringing Health to the Centre of the Climate Agenda,” co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Spain, Azerbaijan, and the COP29 Presidency. Leaders emphasized the urgency of turning past promises into tangible action, culminating in the signing of a Letter of Intent to establish the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health.

“This coalition brings together the leadership of five COP presidencies during a critical time for action, reaffirming the importance of placing health at the forefront of climate discussions,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Co-led by Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom in collaboration with the WHO, the coalition aims to sustain momentum on health-climate initiatives, creating a lasting framework for impactful action as COP30 approaches.

Key Milestones and Strategic Goals

The coalition’s agenda builds on progress made since the inaugural Health Day at COP28, focusing on:

• Advancing Climate-Health Financing: Strengthening the Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions to enhance resource mobilization and technical support for resilient health systems.
• Showcasing Global Success Stories: Sharing effective strategies for integrating health and climate actions, inspiring scalable solutions worldwide.
• Innovative Financing Mechanisms: Exploring public-private partnerships to mobilize investments for country-led climate-health programs.
• Country-Level Collaboration: Expanding partnerships and technical assistance to drive local implementation of adaptive, climate-resilient health systems.

“Human health and climate change are deeply intertwined,” said COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev. “This coalition represents a commitment to ongoing action, ensuring that health remains central to future climate policies.”

A Collaborative Platform for Change

The discussions at COP29 brought together governments, international organizations, and financial institutions, fostering partnerships to address the dual crises of climate and health. The Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition will guide global efforts toward COP30 and beyond, ensuring that health considerations are integrated into climate strategies.

With these milestones, COP29 set the stage for a future where health and climate action go hand in hand, building a healthier, more sustainable world for all.