Human health and adaptation: understanding climate impacts on health and opportunities for action

This report explores the growing health risks related to climate change and the coordinated international responses that can help prevent some of the worst impacts of climate change on health.

Climate change presents a risk to health in a variety of ways. The health risks resulting from climate change impacts in countries are changing and the interlinkages between health, climate change and other drivers of global environmental changes are complex and need to be better understood. A large number of activities ranging from policies that are planned and implemented by governments, to various actions undertaken by intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and communities are already under way in order to address climate change impacts on health. However, a number of challenges, particularly with regard to awareness and education, as well as planning, capacity and financial mechanisms continue to limit action on the ground.

In order to better protect human health from the impacts of climate change, numerous collaborative actions need to be implemented. During the 10th Focal Point Forum of the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, which focused on health and adaptation, Parties, partner organizations and experts discussed a range of collaborative actions to protect health from the impacts of climate change and to develop resilient health systems.

This document provides a synthesis of information on the impacts of climate change on human health, and on emerging activities, challenges and opportunities for collaborative climate action, including under the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. It is based on the information submitted by Parties, partner organizations and other relevant organizations, and inputs from participants during and after the 10th Focal Point Forum on health and adaptation.