Released in the lead-up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate (COP-28), the new framework is designed to enhance the resilience of health systems while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help safeguard the health of communities worldwide.

“Around the world, health systems are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but they also contribute to it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. “We therefore have a dual responsibility to build health systems that can withstand climate-related shocks, while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint. This framework gives countries a roadmap for doing just that.”

WHO’s framework emphasises the optimisation of resource use and the implementation of strategies to curtail greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to prioritise climate resilience. By adopting the framework, the health sector can lead by example in reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions – which are now responsible for almost 5 per cent of the global total – while continuing to enhance quality of care, says the health agency.

Different pathways for health systems to strengthen their climate resilience and decarbonise are presented in the framework document, and the nature of these depends on their overall performance, the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and health capacity. This includes systems in low-income countries that need to increase energy access and health service provision to provide universal health coverage.

The key objectives of the WHO framework are to:

• guide health-sector professionals in addressing climate-related health risks through collaboration;
• strengthen health system functions for climate resilience and low-carbon health approaches;
• support development of specific interventions for climate risk reduction and emissions reduction; and
• define roles and responsibilities for health decision-makers in climate resilience.

The benefits of implementing this framework extend far beyond the realm of healthcare, asserts WHO. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the resilience of health systems, the health sector can also contribute to the broader objectives of universal health coverage (UHC), global health security, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ministerial call for support

The framework was developed following a request for WHO support in this area by ministers of health from more than 75 countries. These countries joined the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) during the UK’s presidency of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November 2021. The UK and WHO then formally established ATACH in June 2022 to drive this agenda forward.

The document not only serves as a roadmap for health organisations and authorities but also as a resource for decision-makers in health-determining sectors. Public health agencies, policymakers, and specialised institutions can all benefit from the insights and strategies outlined in the framework, says WHO.

The WHO’s ‘Operational framework for building climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems’ is part of a blueprint for a future-proof and sustainable health sector. At COP-28, a dedicated Health Day will help underscore the importance of incorporating public health priorities into climate discussions.