The World Health Organization and the global health community have organized and are participating in a series of health events at the 25th UN Climate Change Conference, taking place in Madrid, Spain. Climate change is a public health threat and COP25 provides important opportunities to both increase climate ambition and reinforce the global health agenda.
Throughout COP25
Air Pollution Pods at COP25
An immersive art installation recreating the air pollution conditions of 5 different cities and regions from around the world, the Pollution Pods will be placed between the Blue and Green Zones of the Conference Venue. They will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Environment Spain, World Health Organization, Clean Air Fund and Cape Farewell.
Climate change and Health Briefings
The WHO-civil society working group Briefings will be organized for UN delegates and civil society members before and throughout the 2-week conference. WHO has developed a freely available training package on climate and health in the UNFCCC for those new to the negotiations, and will organize regular open information sessions to provide support and insights on developments at the climate negotiations. If you would like to attend the COP25 climate and health briefings, please contact Marina Maiero, maierom@who.int
December 3rd – Health Day
Media Launch of the WHO Health and Climate Change Global Survey
In the morning of December 3rd, WHO and the Lancet Countdown will provide an overview on global progress being made on climate change and health. WHO will provide a global overview of the progress of over 100 governments in protecting their citizens’ health from climate change. Media Launch, Press Conference Room (see COP schedule), 3rd December, 10:00 – 10:45
If you would be interested to receive an embargoed copy of the report, please contact Tara Neville, nevillet@who.int
Climate change consequences and the world of work: the adaptation challenge from a trade union perspective – Side Event
Workers and employees all around the world are feeling the impacts from climate change, and need to be part of a just transition to a carbon neutral society. In this side event, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), WHO and others take a look at current and future climate impacts and adaptation challenges in the world of work. Side event at the EU Pavilion, 3rd December, 12:30 – 14:00
Monitoring Progress on Health and Climate change - Health Side Event at the SDG Synergies Pavilion
The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement both have major implications for climate change and health, and offer an overarching international effort for all sectors to work towards a secure, healthy, sustainable future for everyone. In this SDG synergies side event, WHO and its partners will take a deeper dive into how climate-health synergies contribute to the Sustainable Development and Paris Agreement climate goals. Side event at the SDG Synergies Pavilion, 3rd December, 13:00 – 14:15
Promoting the Health and Climate Change Nexus at COP26 - Health Side Event at the Italian Pavilion
Health can be a powerful motive in driving climate ambition, and the health cobenefits from climate action easily outweigh the costs of the necessary changes ahead. In this side event at the Italian pavilion, delegates from Italy, the United Kingdom and WHO, among others, will explore how health and social wellbeing could be core themes to drive ambition at the COP26 UN climate conference in 2020. Side event at the Italian Pavilion, 3rd December, 15:30 – 17:00
Invest in climate action for Health: cut emissions, clean our air, save lives - UN System SDG3 Side Event
This high-level side event by WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Chile, CCAC, WMO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNOHCHR, will present some of the key initiatives that came out of the UN Climate Action Summit (CAS) in September 2019, and how the commitments made at the CAS can further drive ambitious and inclusive climate action. UN System SDG3 Side Event, 3rd December, Room 1, 18:30 – 20:00
December 4th
Which cities have ambitions in line with 1.5 °C and what this will mean for their citizens' health? – Side Event
The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities. In this side event, WHO, the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), C40, Ren21 and the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) will provide an overview on cities’ progress in aligning with the Paris Agreement, and what that would mean for the future and wellbeing of their citizens. Healthy Cities Side Event, 4th December, WWF Pavilion, 11.30 – 13:00
December 5th
The imperative for climate action for health – Side Event
The health impacts of climate change put additional stress on many health systems and have already been inducing significant additional mortality. This event will address how health professionals can prepare for this challenge, and how health systems can be adapted. Side Event, 5th December, Room 5, 15:00 – 16:30
December 6th
Chilean National Workshop of the Global Climate and Health Summit
The Chilean Centre for Sustainable Urban Development, Colegio Medico, the Centre for Sustainable Urban Development and the School of Public Health, University of Chile, in collaboration with WHO and the Global Climate and Health Alliance, will convene a one day National Workshop in Santiago, Chile, parallel to the Global Climate and Health Summit on December 7th. Outcomes of the National Workshop will be presented via video at the Global Summit in Madrid the following day. Please contact milena.sergeeva@climateandhealthalliance.org for more information. Chilean National Workshop of the Global Climate and Health Summit, 6th December, Santiago, Chile, 09:00-15:00 GMT-5
Scaling Up Nutrition in the face of a changing climate in small island developing states – Side Event
This joint side event organized by the Government of Fiji and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement at COP25 will discuss how climate change is affecting the nutrition and health status of communities in small islands developing states and share experiences on strategies to adapt to and mitigate these effects, as well as offer an insight into WHO’s work on climate change and nutrition. Side Event, December 6th, Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, 13:45 - 14:45
December 7th
Global Climate and Health Summit
WHO and the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) will convene a one-day summit on climate and health, which will serve as a central moment for health civil society, governments, institutions and other stakeholders to help drive global action to protect health from a changing climate. Registration to the Global Climate and Health Summit is open to anyone and free of charge. Global Climate and Health Summit, December 7th, Complutense University Madrid, 09:00 – 17:30
December 10th
The Health Impacts of Climate Change – Side Event
The health impacts from climate change are increasingly putting a strain on the health systems of governments. In this side event, the ministry of health Spain, the World Health Organization and other partners will outline several example of how governments are building resilient health systems to deal with the impacts of climate change. Side Event, December 10th, Spanish Pavilion, 14:00 – 15:30
Transformative Climate Resilient Development Pathways co-benefits to health and wellbeing– Side Event at the Spanish Pavilion
A High-Level Side event on the health-cobenefits from climate action, outlining the commitments made at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York last September, and discussing the need for governments to strengthen and implement policies that raise ambition and at the same time bring health and wellbeing co-benefits. With Teresa Ribera, Minister for the Ecological Transition of Spain, Dr. Maria Neira, Director WHO Environment, and representatives from UCLA, the SHE Foundation and the UN Climate Action Team. High-Level Side Event, December 10th, Spanish Pavilion, 18:00 – 19:00
December 11th
Planetary Health Special Event
This event focuses on novel solutions by communities, cities, companies, NGOs, and other institutions that balance the need for healthy communities with the stewardship of natural ecosystems. Action Hub Side Event, December 11th, Blue Zone, Hall 4, 10:00 - 10:45
WHO booth at COP25
Feel free to pass by the WHO booth during COP25 if you would like to speak to a WHO representative, are interested in our recent reports and activities, or would like to learn more about human health and climate change. Learn more about WHO’s activities at COP25 here.
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