A new joint report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Government of Brazil (COP30 Presidency) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health warns that climate change has already triggered a global health emergency. Extreme heat now causes more than 540,000 deaths every year, and one in every twelve hospitals worldwide faces the risk of climate-related service disruption. The COP30 Special Report on Health and Climate Change: Delivering the Belém Health Action Plan highlights that rising temperatures and overburdened health systems are already resulting in severe health impacts. The report follows the launch of Brazil’s Belém Health Action Plan during COP30’s dedicated Health Day on 13 November 2025.
With global temperatures surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, over 3.3 billion people live in highly climate-vulnerable regions. Hospitals today face a 41% greater risk of weather-related damage compared to 1990. Without urgent decarbonization and adaptation, the number of at-risk health facilities could double by 2050. Despite this rising threat, only half of countries have health adaptation plans that assess risks to healthcare infrastructure, and fewer than 1% include the needs of people with disabilities.
Experts stress that strengthening health systems is among the most effective investments nations can make. Allocating even a small share of adaptation finance to health could safeguard essential services during climate shocks. While progress has been made — with the number of nations using Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems doubling since 2015 — many vulnerable countries still lack effective systems.
The report calls for integrating health objectives into national climate plans, investing in resilient infrastructure, accelerating low-carbon transitions and empowering communities to shape climate-health responses. A companion report from Brazil emphasizes social participation, noting that equitable, community-driven policies are essential for effective adaptation. Together, these reports provide governments with evidence-based pathways to implement the Belém Health Action Plan and protect populations in a rapidly warming world.
