Understanding National Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation for Public Health

Climate change is rapidly reshaping the global landscape, posing unprecedented risks to human health. From deteriorating air quality and increased infectious disease outbreaks to food and water insecurity, the health impacts of climate change are intensifying. These challenges disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, widening existing health inequities and threatening global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A recent mixed-methods study surveyed national public health representatives to identify the significant barriers to climate change adaptation for public health, offering critical insights into global institutional, economic, technical, and sociopolitical constraints.

Why Climate Change Adaptation for Public Health Matters

Climate change adaptation (CCA) is a core pillar of the global response to climate change, alongside mitigation. While climate mitigation reduces future emissions, adaptation strengthens resilience to the climate-driven risks already unfolding. Public health professionals have long warned that without effective adaptation strategies, climate change could reverse decades of health and development progress, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Study Overview

The survey targeted public health associations and societies across 82 countries and evaluated:

• National progress toward public health-centered adaptation

• Impacts of governance, financial, technical, and political barriers

• Opportunities for global organizations to support more effective adaptation responses

Although responses came from 11 countries, the findings provide valuable cross-cutting perspectives.

Key Findings

National Commitment is Rising, But Not Fast Enough

Many countries have increased their commitment to climate-health policies compared with previous assessments. However, progress continues to fall short of what is needed to protect populations from climate-related health emergencies.

Major Barriers Slowing Adaptation

1. Poor Government Coordination

Fragmented governance structures limit effective planning, resource distribution, and implementation of adaptation strategies across sectors and regions.

2. Lack of Political Will

Despite growing awareness, climate-health adaptation often lacks the political prioritization needed to drive transformation at a national scale.

3. Inadequate Financial Investment

Public health adaptation frequently suffers from insufficient funding. Without stronger and more equitable financial support, particularly for climate-vulnerable nations, meaningful adaptation cannot take place.

Recommendations for Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation

Increase Global Collaboration

More international forums and coordinated agenda-setting platforms can help align priorities and accelerate progress in climate-health resilience.

Improve Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

Governments should invest in collaborative frameworks that allow more seamless cooperation among ministries, agencies, communities, and organizations.

Embed Adaptation Across Policy Sectors

Integrating climate-health adaptation into broader policy domains, supported by improved climate-health literacy among policymakers, can enhance buy-in and effectiveness.

Expand and Prioritize Funding

Investment should focus on evidence-driven, cost-effective adaptation pathways that reduce inequalities and protect high-risk groups.

Build Climate-Health Workforce Capacity

Knowledge translation hubs, technical training, and support from high-income countries can help expand the human capital required to manage climate-health risks.

Establish High-Level National Adaptation Agencies

Governments should designate dedicated climate-health bodies with the authority to coordinate across sectors and evaluate progress.

Enable Localized and Context-Responsive Action

Adaptation frameworks should allow flexibility for regions and communities to implement actions based on local scientific data and lived experience.

Study Limitations

While aligned with existing literature, the study was constrained by:

• Limited sample size (11 respondents)

• Closed-question survey structure

• Geographic gaps, including no responses from Pacific Island States, which are among the most climate-vulnerable regions globally

These limitations suggest the need for ongoing research and more inclusive survey participation to capture the realities of global adaptation fully.

Conclusion

Effective climate change adaptation for public health is essential to protecting populations from the accelerating health impacts of climate change. Despite growing national commitments, central governance, financial, and political barriers continue to slow progress.

By deepening understanding of these challenges, global health organizations, policymakers, and advocates can strengthen evidence-based strategies that improve national resilience and protect the most vulnerable communities. The road ahead requires stronger coordination, more equitable financing, and global collaboration, but the research shows that with focused action, meaningful progress is within reach.

Read the complete study to explore how addressing these barriers can unlock more effective, equitable, and health-focused climate adaptation at the national level.

Life Course Immunization: Why Lifelong Vaccination is Essential for Public Health

Immunization is a lifelong shield that goes beyond childhood. While pediatric vaccination programs have seen tremendous success, adult and adolescent immunization remains a dangerously overlooked pillar of global health. This critical gap leaves populations vulnerable to preventable diseases, pandemics, and needless suffering at every stage of life.

For decades, vaccination has been rightly celebrated for its role in conquering infectious diseases. A powerful new consensus from the world’s top health organization is expanding its mission: vaccination is a cornerstone of preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDS) like heart attacks, strokes, and diabetic complications. 

The urgency to close this gap has never been greater. This paradigm shift is the driving force behind a new global initiative. 

The 2024 Geneva Accord: A New Strategy for a New Health Reality

In November 2024, a pivotal meeting in Geneva, convened by the world’s most influential health and community NGOs, aimed to address a silent crisis: the alarming decline in adult vaccination rates and its cascading impact on global health. 

The result was a Call to Action: International Health and Community NGOs Advocate for Life-Course Vaccination. This document represents a consensus among organizations representing millions of health professionals and citizens worldwide. It moves the conversation from why life-course immunization is essential to how we must achieve it. Now, with a vital new concept, life-course vaccination is necessary for NCD prevention and healthy aging. 

Supported by a Coalition of Global Health Leaders:

This call to action is endorsed by the following organizations, representing millions of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, public health experts, medical students, and aging advocates worldwide:

• All.Can
• Coalition for Life Course Immunisation (CLCI)
• Global Ageing Network
• International Council of Nurses (ICN)
• International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA)
• International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
• International Federation on Ageing (IFA)
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
• International Pharmaceutical Student’s Federation (IPSF)
• Junior Doctors Network, World Medical Association (JDN, WMA)
• World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)
• World Medical Association (WMA)
• World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)

The Growing Immunization Gap: How Vaccines Prevent Chronic Disease

The traditional benefits of vaccination, such as preventing outbreaks, reducing healthcare costs, and protecting the vulnerable, remain critically important. Yet, recent data reveal a concerning decline in vaccination rates, posing a threat to global health security. 

Reports from the WHO, UNICEF, and other bodies show:

• Adult vaccination rates have stagnated or dropped since the pandemic, particularly among aging and at-risk populations.
• Measles outbreaks are resurging in countries where the disease was previously controlled.
• Low uptake of flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines in high-risk groups leads to preventable hospitalizations and deaths, straining healthcare systems.

This evidence underscores the urgent need for the coordinated strategy outlined in the new Call to Action.

What does this mean in practice?

• Influenza & COVID-19 increase heart attacks and strokes: These viral infections cause severe inflammation, which can destabilize arterial plaque, leading to cardiovascular events, risks that vaccinations can reduce. 
• RSV & pneumonia can lead to respiratory decline: In older adults or those with COPD, a severe respiratory infection can result in permanent lung damage and a significant decline in functional health. 
• HPV & cancer: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical, oropharyngeal, and other cancers. HPV vaccination is, quite literally, a form of cancer prevention.
• Shingles & chronic pain: Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the cause of chickenpox, can lead to debilitating, long-term nerve pain, drastically reducing quality of life.

By preventing the initial infection, vaccines directly prevent the chronic conditions that follow.

The 10-Point Plan: A Roadmap to Integrate Vaccination and NCD Prevention

The coalition’s document provides a clear roadmap. Here are the 10 critical actions it urges advocates and policymakers to implement:

1. Protect Health and Social Care Workers: Ensure they are prioritized to prevent the spread of disease to vulnerable patients.
2. Guarantee Equitable Access: Tailor vaccine access to every stage of life, removing financial and logistical barriers.
3. Mobilize the Health Workforce: Provide tools and resources for vaccine delivery across all care settings.
4. Establish Adult Vaccine Schedules: Develop clear, comprehensive, and equitable vaccination schedules for adults that complement existing pediatric programs.
5. Develop Robust Immunization Registries: Implement interoperable systems to track vaccine uptake in real-time.
6. Integrate Vaccination with NCD Prevention: Recognize the strategic role of vaccination in preventing complications from non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
7. Expand and Simplify Vaccination Pathways: Make getting vaccinated easier through community-based and mobile clinics.
8. Raise Awareness and Build Confidence: Run public campaigns highlighting the value of vaccination throughout one’s life.
9. Embed Community Engagement: Involve communities in vaccine program design and development to ensure they meet real needs.
10. Leverage the Health Workforce: Empower health professionals, from students to retirees, to be champions for vaccination.

The Tangible Benefits of a Life-Course Immunization Approach

Adopting this framework offers profound advantages that strengthen societies:

• Prevents Deadly Outbreaks: High vaccination coverage across all ages creates a more substantial herd immunity effect, protecting those who can’t be vaccinated.
• Dramatically Reduces Healthcare Costs: Preventing diseases like shingles, pneumonia, and HPV-related cancers lowers hospitalizations, long-term care needs, and lost productivity.
• Protects Vulnerable Populations: A vaccinated community is a safer environment for older people, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
• Builds Resilient Health Systems: By preventing illness, health systems are less burdened and better able to handle other crises.
• Promotes Healthy Communities: Lifelong immunization supports well-being at every age and helps entire communities live healthier, more active lives. 

From Call to Action to Reality: How We Can All Participate

Implementing this vision requires a commitment from all sectors. The Call to Action provides the blueprint, but we all have a role to play in its implementation.

• Policymakers: Must prioritize funding, establish national adult schedules, and remove regulatory barriers.
• Healthcare Providers: Can integrate vaccine discussions into every routine care visit, for every age group.
• Individuals & Communities: Should stay informed, advocate for access, and get recommended vaccines.
• Organizations: Can sign on to support the call to action and promote their messages internally and externally.

A Healthier Future for All Generations

Life-course immunization is a fundamental right and a shared societal responsibility. We can no longer silo infectious disease and chronic disease efforts. We must unite these two pillars of health.

Life-course immunization is the powerful and practical link that ties it all together. The 2024 Geneva Call to Action provides the definitive framework for achieving this goal. By embracing this strategy, we aren’t just preventing the flu or shingles; we are preventing heart failure, debilitating pain, and cancer. We aim to promote health throughout a person’s lifetime, rather than just treating a specific illness or condition. 

By uniting behind this powerful consensus from the world’s leading health authorities, we can build healthier, more equitable, and more resilient communities for generations to come.

If your organization would like to endorse our Call to Action and join us in this effort, please get in touch with us at secretariat@wfpha.org

Click here to read the full, official Call to Action document supported by international NGOs

Global Cervical Cancer Vaccination: A Path to Eradication in the 21st Century

Cervical cancer remains a profound global public health challenge. Each year, 330,000 women die from cervical cancer, most of them in the developing world. While COVID-19 has heightened the need for a more precise understanding of vaccination, the Global Task Force continues working toward advancing global cervical cancer vaccination and supporting strategies that can prevent this entirely avoidable disease.

The Origins of Cervical Cancer Prevention

The history of cervical cancer control began with George Papanikolaou, who developed the first screening test for the disease. However, screening began to deliver measurable impact only after national call-recall screening programs were established. In the UK, for example, cervical cancer rates did not begin to decline until a sufficient proportion of women were reached through a structured national system in 1987.

A Breakthrough: Recognizing HPV as the Cause

A transformational development occurred in the 1980s, when Harald Zur Hausen and colleagues discovered that cervical cancer is caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). This shifted the conversation from treating disease to preventing the infection that causes it.

Destroying affected tissue was the only treatment for HPV infection at the time, but preventing the infection itself was far more effective. Zur Hausen’s work revealed that multiple strains of HPV contribute to cervical cancer, and this knowledge laid the groundwork for developing a vaccine.

Creating the First HPV Vaccines

HPV vaccines were built using virus-like particles and alum adjuvant, a traditional and proven vaccine approach. A patented eukaryotic expression system helped attract industry investment, ultimately enabling a $2 billion development journey from 1991 to the 2006 vaccine launch.

Since then, virus-like particle technology has become widespread, with over 200 publications per year on this approach. The resulting vaccines have been shown to be long-lasting, safe, and highly effective in stimulating antibody-based protection.

Proving Real-World Effectiveness

Because only 1–2% of HPV infections progress to pre-cancer, large clinical trials were required to demonstrate vaccine effectiveness. Once introduced, the vaccines quickly showed dramatic real-world impact.

Australia: A Case Study in Success

In Australia, one of the earliest adopters of the vaccine:

• Genital warts virtually disappeared in vaccinated women under 21 between 2007 and 2011.

• Women over 30 (unvaccinated) saw no change, highlighting the vaccine’s impact.

• Unvaccinated male partners also saw significant declines in genital warts, demonstrating potent herd immunity.

Protection was strongest when vaccination occurred before sexual activity. Girls vaccinated at age 14 showed around 75% protection against cervical pre-cancer, while those vaccinated at 17, many of whom were already exposed to HPV, had lower protection. This confirms that vaccines prevent infection but do not treat existing disease.

Closing Global Disparities in Cervical Cancer Prevention

Early vaccination programs were primarily implemented in high-income countries, shown in green on early global maps, despite the greatest cervical cancer burden being concentrated in the developing world.

Vanuatu: Implementation in Limited Health Systems

Vanuatu, a country of 250,000 people across 50 islands:

• Had just 25 doctors and only one working vaccine refrigerator.

• Screening of 500 women over 30 found 5 with cervical cancer and 17 with pre-cancer, making Vanuatu one of the highest-incidence nations globally.

Yet, through school-based vaccination and community education led by local nurses, Vanuatu achieved:

• 80% first-dose coverage among girls

• 98% return for dose two

• 93% return for dose three

Vaccination succeeded even in remote environments when the delivery system was practical and community-driven.

Bhutan: The Power of School-Based Vaccination

Bhutan vaccinated nearly 100% of eligible girls (ages 10–12) in its first year. When the program temporarily shifted away from schools, coverage fell to about 60% until school delivery was reintroduced. The lesson: school-based programs increase vaccination success, especially in regions with limited healthcare access.

The Reality Behind Vaccination Impact

More than 300 million HPV vaccine doses have been delivered worldwide. In theory, this should have prevented 3 million future cervical cancer deaths, based on disease burden and lifetime risk. However, most vaccines were delivered in countries already equipped with screening programs, meaning the immediate incremental benefit is likely closer to 10,000 prevented cancer cases so far. To maximize global impact, vaccination must reach the regions with the highest burden.

How Many Doses Are Needed?

HPV vaccines were originally administered in three doses, but studies showed that for girls under 16:

• Two doses were as effective as three

• Even one dose may provide strong protection, though more research is needed

A successful future strategy may involve large-scale single-dose campaigns, increasing reach, and reducing logistical strain.

Who Should Be Vaccinated?

Girls Only, or Universal Vaccination?

While girls bear the highest cervical cancer risk, boys also suffer from HPV-related cancers, including the now-increasing oropharyngeal cancers, particularly in Australia. Universal vaccination:

• Leverages herd immunity

• Eliminates stigma

• Prevents disease in men

• Reduces transmission overall

Why the Nine-Valent Vaccine Matters

The nine-valent HPV vaccine covers additional virus types responsible for a significant portion of cervical cancers, offering a stronger foundation for eventual global disease elimination.

The Global Goal: Eradication in the 21st Century

The World Health Organization has now set a bold target: eradicate cervical cancer worldwide by 2100. Australia aims to reduce cervical cancer to a rare disease (4 cases per 100,000 per year) by 2020–2025 through combined screening and vaccination efforts.

Modeling shows:

• Vaccination alone leaves many already-infected women unprotected

• Combined screening plus nine-valent vaccination gives the strongest path to eradication

Learning from Polio: A Clear Parallel

Before vaccination:

• Polio infection lifetime risk: ~50%, with 0.1% mortality

• HPV infection lifetime risk: also ~50%, with 0.8% mortality without vaccination

In the U.S.:

• 1952 polio deaths: 3,100

• 2005 cervical cancer deaths: 3,900, even with screening programs in place

Cervical cancer in 2005 was deadlier than polio in 1952. Yet, public urgency toward HPV vaccination remains far lower.

HPV Vaccination Is Safe and Effective

With 97% effectiveness, and:

• Less than one in a million severe allergic reactions

• No other significant adverse effects

HPV vaccines are among the safest public health tools available today.

A Call to Action

Every year, 300,000 women die of cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease. The science is clear, the vaccine is proven, and the roadmap exists.

To eliminate cervical cancer globally, the world must commit to:

• Routine HPV vaccination

• Equitable access in high-burden countries

• Continued screening and nine-valent coverage

• Delivery models that reach girls before sexual activity

With sustained commitment, cervical cancer can be eradicated within this century.

Seeking an Intern for the WFPHA

The World Federation of Public Health Associations is currently looking for 1 Intern for the Oral Health Working Group.

WFPHA offers a unique internship environment for students in international health and development. Interns are given substantial responsibility for activities such as researching and writing articles for the newsletter, establishing contact with health and development NGOs worldwide, planning international conferences, and fundraising. Each internship is structured to suit the intern’s needs and interests, as well as the requirements of WFPHA.

During the internship, interns will further develop their writing and research skills and become more familiar with the key issues and actors in international health and development. They will have extensive networking opportunities as WFPHA is an international NGO in official relations with the WHO, and has extensive contacts with other organizations worldwide.

Key areas:

• Research
• Global Oral Health Integration
• Integration of Oral Health into Primary Care
• Oral Health and NCDs
• Digital Health

Qualification and Experience

• Student or graduate degree in the area of International Relations, Health-related Faculties, or are enrolled in a degree program.
• Knowledge of MS Office, Adobe
• English: a must
• Good writing skills
• Eager to work within a multicultural and international environment
• A good team player with a “can-do” attitude
• Good at multitasking and working with strict deadlines

Compensation

The internship is unpaid. Remote working.

Period

Starts in January 2026 for a minimum of 3 months (full-time) or 6 months (part-time). The internship may be part-time or full-time.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for the internship, please send your CV and motivation letter to Maria Mata at maria.mata@wfpha.org by December 1st. Please include in the Subject line: Internship application – Oral Health

Child Oral Health as a Human Right: Why Global Action Can’t Wait

Below, we examine why child oral health is at a critical crossroads, what past global declarations have achieved, and how integrating oral health into general health systems can drive meaningful, long-lasting change.

The Global Burden: Why Child Oral Health Needs Immediate Attention

More than 60–90% of children worldwide have dental cavities, and most remain untreated, especially in early childhood. Despite being preventable, dental caries remain one of the most widespread public health issues globally.

Several factors continue to fuel this crisis:

• Limited access to dental care
• High sugar consumption in diets
• Lack of preventive oral health programs
• Increasing marketing of sugary foods to children
• Insufficient integration between oral health and general health systems

The Lancet Series and WHO have repeatedly highlighted these issues, yet progress has been uneven across countries.

What Global Declarations Have Achieved and Where They Fell Short

Early Milestones in Child Oral Health Advocacy

One of the earliest landmark efforts came in 2006, when a central Declaration on Child Oral Health urged countries to:

1. Increase focus on children’s oral health
2. Establish a global task force

This sparked significant collaborations, such as:

• The Senior Dental Leadership Program, supported by Colgate-Palmolive, Henry Schein, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and King’s College London.
• National campaigns such as the Philippines’ “7 o’clock Toothbrushing Habit.”
• Cambodia’s SEAL CAMBODIA, which ultimately provided fissure sealants, fluoride, education, and preventive supplies to 66,000 children.

While these efforts drove progress, many initiatives lost momentum with political turnover and shifting priorities.

The 2013 Declaration: Defining Oral Health as a Human Right

A central turning point occurred in 2013, when the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) approved a Declaration that identified what the “human right to oral health” truly means for children.

It outlined four fundamental rights:

• Access to preventive materials like fluoride toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Preventive interventions such as fissure sealants, fluoride varnish, and water fluoridation
• Early treatment of dental caries
• Protection from the marketing of unhealthy foods

Countries such as Mexico strongly embraced this, making daily school toothbrushing a statutory requirement, reaching 30 million children.

Sugar, Infant Formula, and Missed Prevention Opportunities

Research continues to reveal that many infant formula products contain as much sugar as carbonated soft drinks. For infants and toddlers, this presents a serious and under-recognized risk to oral health.

At the same time, the global rollout of sugar taxes, while positive for obesity prevention, rarely included oral health components. This lack of integration highlights the often fragmented nature of public health strategies, even when addressing shared risk factors, such as sugar.

COVID-19’s Impact: A Turning Point for Child Oral Health

The pandemic amplified every risk factor for poor child oral health:

• Families faced economic hardship, which reduced their ability to afford essentials such as toothpaste, dental visits, and healthy foods.
• Public services and school-based programs had been interrupted.
• Higher consumption of low-cost, high-sugar foods became more common.
• Access to dental care became more limited.

All indicators suggest that child oral health, already at crisis levels, will decline further unless prevention is prioritized.

Why Integration is Essential for Sustainable Oral Health Solutions

One of the most persistent barriers to progress is the disconnect between oral health and the wider public health community. In many regions, particularly in Africa and certain parts of Asia, there is a limited number of dental public health professionals within ministries or national health systems. Most specialists work in academia, leaving a significant gap in policy leadership.

This is where integrated health strategies become vital.

The Taiwan Declaration: A Framework for Integration

Launched in 2019 by the WFPHA, the Taiwan Declaration lays out six core principles and six priority actions to integrate oral health into general health promotion. It recognizes shared risk factors and encourages “oral health in all policies.”

Examples of successful implementation include:

• Taiwan’s use of sin-tax funds from cigarette sales to support integrated oral health initiatives.
• Joint medical-dental education programs in the United States.
• Research in India shows links between diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and poor oral health.
• Ethiopia’s Community Health Extension Program demonstrates how multi-skilled health workers can successfully integrate dental care in low-resource settings.

These examples reveal that integration is practical, cost-effective, and scalable.

Three Key Priorities for Ensuring Child Oral Health as a Human Right

1. Address the Economic Fallout of the Pandemic

Financial hardship is expected to worsen diets, reduce access to care, and affect the affordability of basic essentials, such as fluoride toothpaste.

2. Refocus on Prevention and Innovate

Essential prevention measures include:

• Daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste
• Fluoride varnish
• Fissure sealants
• Water fluoridation

Countries should also invest in innovative preventive technologies and structural solutions that can continue to operate even during lockdowns.

3. Build Strong, Cross-Sector Alliances

Alliances must extend beyond the dental community to include:

• Medical professionals
• Public health leaders
• Schools and educators
• Government agencies
• Community health workers

Working in silos has limited progress for decades. A unified approach is needed to accelerate action.

What are the Most Effective Prevention Investments Today?

In periods of economic pressure and limited public resources, the highest-impact, most cost-effective strategies include:

• Automatic prevention systems like water fluoridation
• Daily supervised toothbrushing in schools
• Population-wide sugar reduction measures
• Community-based preventive programs

Countries should also consider restructuring dental service budgets to incentivize prevention over treatment.

How Future Dental Professionals Can Support the Movement

Dentists-in-training often wonder how they can contribute to a global issue. The truth is: they play a vital role.

They can:

• Collaborate with general practitioners and local health providers
• Support school-based oral health education
• Introduce new preventive innovations within their practice
• Advocate for integrated care in their local communities

Every point of contact with a child or family is an opportunity to strengthen early prevention.

Raising the Profile of Oral Health in High-Burden Countries

In countries such as India, where the burden of disease is high and stakeholder engagement is low, progress depends on building strong relationships and unified advocacy.

Key steps include:

• Engaging both dental and medical professional bodies
• Educating policymakers on the consequences of poor child oral health
• Developing creative, feasible prevention programs
• Establishing consensus on early action areas

Alliances are formed through effective communication, shared goals, and a collective commitment.

Moving Forward: From Declarations to Action

The world does not need more declarations about child oral health. It needs implementation.

Upholding child oral health as a human right requires coordinated global action, centered on prevention, innovation, integration, and strong alliances. The lessons from past declarations, the urgency created by the pandemic, and the clarity offered by the Taiwan Declaration all point in the same direction:

Protecting children’s oral health is not optional. It is essential for their overall well-being, equity, and future.

Watch the original webinar here.

Strengthening the One Health Approach for Climate Change Mitigation and Public Health Protection

As climate change accelerates, its impacts on human health, animal health, ecosystems, and social systems are becoming increasingly interconnected. At the COP30 Satellite Meeting in Belém, Brazil, on November 12, 2025, global experts convened to address these intertwined challenges and underscore the critical role of the One Health approach in mitigating climate change.

Recognizing that climate threats intensify emerging diseases, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance, and social inequities, meeting participants reached a consensus on a set of guiding principles to strengthen One Health governance and integrate it effectively into global climate action.

1. Enhancing One Health Governance for Climate Action

Participants affirmed the need to embed One Health principles into climate strategies at global, national, and local levels. Strengthened governance frameworks must support coordination across human, animal, environmental, and social sectors. This integrated approach ensures that climate action prioritizes proactive mitigation strategies, rather than relying solely on adaptation.

2. Strengthening Global Anti-Epidemic Capacity Through Interface Understanding

The consensus highlighted the importance of deepening our understanding of the human–animal–ecosystem–social interface. By addressing zoonoses, emerging infectious diseases, biodiversity loss, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food insecurity, and social inequities, particularly those worsened by climate change, countries can significantly bolster global epidemic preparedness and response.

3. Advancing Early Warning Systems and One Health Tools

Experts are committed to improving early warning systems grounded in integrated surveillance. Strengthening tools such as the Global One Health Index (GOHI) and promoting the sharing of best practices will enable timely alerts for climate-related health risks and support preventive, data-driven interventions.

4. Promoting Active Mitigation Strategies

The meeting emphasized shifting from passive adaptation to active climate change mitigation. Reducing hazards at their source, rather than merely reacting to them, is essential for preventing climate-related health risks and protecting communities before crises occur.

5. Facilitating Knowledge Exchange and Best Practice Sharing

Participants advocated for mechanisms and platforms that allow continuous knowledge exchange. Sharing proven One Health practices and case studies from various regions and institutions will strengthen global learning and accelerate the effective implementation of these practices.

6. Building Multisectoral Partnerships

The consensus reaffirmed the importance of multisectoral collaboration. Governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector must collaborate to leverage their diverse expertise and resources in advancing the One Health approach within climate mitigation strategies.

7. Developing Consensus-Based Implementation Frameworks

Experts supported the creation of unified, consensus-based frameworks to guide the operationalization of One Health in climate mitigation efforts. These frameworks must align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, to ensure global coherence and accountability.

8. Investing in Research and Innovation

Increased investment in research is essential to deepen understanding of the climate–health nexus. Innovation will be key to developing new solutions that address integrated One Health challenges and support sustainable climate action.

9. Ensuring Equity and Inclusivity

The consensus underscored the need for equity and inclusion. One Health approaches must prioritize vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate change and ensure that mitigation strategies do not widen existing disparities.

10. Establishing Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms

Robust monitoring and evaluation systems are needed to assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of One Health interventions. Continuous evaluation will support adaptive improvements and strengthen evidence-based climate action.

The outcomes of the COP30 Satellite Meeting demonstrate a unified commitment to elevating the One Health approach for climate change mitigation as a global priority. By enhancing governance, strengthening epidemic preparedness, building inclusive partnerships, and investing in innovation, the international community can better protect public health while addressing the root causes of climate risks.

This consensus marks a pivotal step toward integrated, equitable, and sustainable climate solutions, recognizing that the health of people, animals, ecosystems, and societies is inextricably linked to the health of our planet.