Climate change is now the number one threat to public health. Heat waves, floods, food insecurity, and the spread of infectious diseases—the health impacts of climate change are numerous, growing, and hit the most vulnerable populations the hardest. Beyond its impact on human health, climate change puts pressure on health systems and compromises our ability to deliver quality care.
Recent years have seen health take center stage in international climate discussions, from COP26 in 2021 through the adoption of the Belém Action Plan at COP30 in 2025. These new frameworks for action have brought countries together behind common goals and encouraged them to take action to protect their populations and strengthen their health systems to cope with climate shocks.
Climate action—through the mitigation of global warming—and public health action—through strengthening the resilience of health systems—are two sides of the same coin and must now become a priority for governments if they are to sustainably protect the health of their populations.
However, despite significant progress on the international stage, political recognition is advancing faster than funding. Health remains largely underfunded within international climate finance mechanisms. At the national level, the lack of resources dedicated to climate policies and the increasing precariousness of health systems also jeopardize countries’ ability to address these challenges.
Health and climate issues are still not given high priority today. This can be attributed to a lack of understanding of the health risks associated with climate change, the rise of climate skepticism, and the spread of misinformation about health and climate issues. All of these factors hinder health and climate action at every level of policymaking.
95% of Europe experienced above-average temperatures in 2025. Europe is the continent warming the fastest.
According to The Lancet Countdown Europe, the intersection of climate and health is virtually absent from parliamentary debates in the European Parliament.
By 2100, smoke from wildfires could cause nearly 1.4 million premature deaths per year worldwide, six times more than today.
Over the past four years, more than 200,000 people have died as a result of heat-related causes in Europe.
Our Asks
At FR level
- Ensure that France pursues an ambitious climate and health policy that lives up to its international commitments, fully incorporating adaptation and the strengthening of the health system’s resilience.
- Defend public policy decisions on health and the environment that are based on strong scientific expertise and whose capacity for action and independence are protected.
International level
- Ensure that France and the EU make health a priority in climate action as part of their involvement in international processes.
- Ensure that France and the EU make health a priority in climate action as part of their involvement in international processes.
- Promote better integration of health into climate finance mechanisms, particularly in terms of adaptation, in order to secure resources to address the health impacts of climate change.
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