WHO and Brazil urge swift action on Belém Health Action Plan at COP30 – World Health Organization (WHO)

Report on the Intersection of Climate Change, Global Health, and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A special report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Brazil has identified climate change as a global health emergency, directly impeding progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The findings, detailed in the COP30 Special report on health and climate change, underscore the urgent need for integrated policy and investment to build climate-resilient health systems and protect vulnerable populations, aligning with the core SDG principle of “Leave No One Behind.”

Climate-Induced Health Crisis and Infrastructure Vulnerability

The report presents critical data highlighting the severe impact of climate change on global health and infrastructure, which directly challenges the achievement of key SDG targets.

Key Findings on Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

• Over 540,000 deaths are attributed to extreme heat annually.
• An estimated 3.3 to 3.6 billion people reside in areas highly vulnerable to climate change.
• The health sector’s contribution of approximately 5% to global greenhouse gas emissions presents a challenge and an opportunity for mitigation efforts under SDG 13.

Impact on Sustainable Infrastructure (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

• One in twelve hospitals worldwide is at risk of shutdown due to climate-related events.
• Hospitals face a 41% higher risk of damage from extreme weather compared to 1990 levels.
• Without rapid decarbonization, the number of at-risk health facilities could double by mid-century, jeopardizing universal access to health services as outlined in SDG 3.

Addressing Inequities and Gaps in Adaptation (SDG 10 & SDG 5)

The report identifies significant gaps in current climate adaptation strategies, revealing a failure to address systemic inequalities, which is a core tenet of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Deficiencies in National Health Adaptation Plans

• Only 54% of national plans assess risks to health facilities.
• Fewer than 30% of health adaptation studies consider income as a vulnerability factor.
• Only 20% of studies consider gender, undermining progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• Less than 1% of studies include considerations for people with disabilities.

This lack of inclusive planning risks exacerbating health disparities for vulnerable and historically marginalized populations, directly contradicting the goals of equitable development.

The Belém Health Action Plan: A Framework for SDG Alignment

The Belém Health Action Plan, a central initiative of Brazil’s COP30 Presidency, provides a strategic framework to integrate health into climate action, fostering progress across the SDGs through multi-stakeholder collaboration, as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Core Principles and Lines of Action

1. Cross-Cutting Principles: The plan is founded on health equity, climate justice, and social participation, directly supporting SDG 10 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
2. Surveillance and Monitoring: A focus on strengthening climate-informed health surveillance aligns with SDG 3.d, which calls for enhanced capacity for early warning and management of global health risks.
3. Evidence-Based Policies: The plan aims to build capacity for implementing equity-driven solutions, contributing to effective and accountable institutions.
4. Innovation and Digital Health: Promoting research and technology access supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering resilient and sustainable solutions for health challenges.

Recommendations for Integrated National Action

The report issues a clear call to action for governments to translate evidence into policy, ensuring that climate and health objectives are mutually reinforcing and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Government Mandates

• Integrate health objectives into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), creating policy coherence between SDG 3 and SDG 13.
• Fund health adaptation by harnessing financial savings from decarbonization efforts, creating a sustainable financing model for resilient health systems.
• Invest in resilient infrastructure, prioritizing health facilities to safeguard essential services and advance SDG 9 and SDG 11.
• Empower communities and local knowledge systems to shape responses, ensuring inclusive and participatory governance in line with SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the interconnectedness of climate change, health, and social equity. The most relevant SDGs are:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the central theme, as the article focuses on the global health emergency driven by climate change, including deaths from extreme heat and the vulnerability of health systems.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The entire context of the article is climate change. It discusses rising temperatures, the need for decarbonization, and the importance of adaptation measures like National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article explicitly mentions the risk to infrastructure, stating that “1 in 12 hospitals worldwide at risk of climate-related shutdowns” and calls for investment in “resilient infrastructure, prioritizing health facilities.”
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The report emphasizes that climate change disproportionately affects “vulnerable and historically marginalized populations.” It points out that adaptation plans often fail to consider income, gender, or disability, highlighting a major gap in achieving health equity.
   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article specifically notes that only “20% [of] health adaptation studies consider gender,” indicating a lack of focus on the unique vulnerabilities faced by women in the context of climate change and health.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The report itself is a collaborative effort between the WHO, the Government of Brazil, and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. It calls for “immediate and coordinated action” and discusses the allocation of adaptation finance, which relies on global partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, particularly developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks. This is directly addressed by the article’s focus on strengthening health systems and the mention of the doubling of countries with Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS).

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article is centered on this target, calling for adaptation measures to safeguard health infrastructure and protect communities from climate shocks.
     • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. The report explicitly calls on governments to “Integrate health objectives into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).”
     • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. This is highlighted by the finding that only “46% of Least Developed Countries and 39% of Small Island Developing States have effective [early warning] systems in place” and the call to “empower communities.”

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and people affected by disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The article’s statistic of “over 540,000 people dying from extreme heat each year” directly relates to this target.
     • Target 11.b: Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The call to invest in “resilient infrastructure, prioritizing health facilities” supports this target.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

     • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article points to a failure in meeting this target by stating that adaptation studies rarely consider income (less than 30%), gender (20%), or disability (less than 1%).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article provides several explicit and implicit indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Number of deaths from climate-related hazards: The article states that “over 540,000 people dying from extreme heat each year.” This is a direct indicator for measuring the impact on health (related to SDG Target 11.5).
   • Vulnerability of health infrastructure: The statistic that “1 in 12 hospitals worldwide at risk of climate-related shutdowns” and that hospitals face a “41% higher risk of damage from extreme weather-related impact compared to 1990” serves as a key indicator of infrastructure resilience (related to SDG Target 11.5).
   • Coverage of early warning systems: The article provides a clear metric: “the number of countries with national Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) doubled to 101 between 2015 and 2023, now covering about two-thirds of the global population.” It also provides specific data for vulnerable nations, noting that only “46% of Least Developed Countries and 39% of Small Island Developing States have effective systems” (related to SDG Target 3.d and 13.b).
   • Inclusion in adaptation planning: The article offers specific percentages that act as indicators of inclusivity in policy-making: “fewer than 30% of health adaptation studies consider income, 20% consider gender, and less than 1% include people with disabilities” (related to SDG Target 10.2).
   • Integration of health in climate policies: An implied indicator is the number or percentage of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) that include specific health objectives (related to SDG Target 13.2).
   • Greenhouse gas emissions from the health sector: The statement that “The health sector itself contributes around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions” provides a baseline indicator to measure progress on decarbonization within the sector.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.d: Strengthen capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of health risks.	Percentage of countries with effective Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS). (Article states 101 countries, covering two-thirds of the global population, but only 46% of LDCs and 39% of SIDS).
   SDG 13: Climate Action	13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies.	Number of deaths attributed to disasters. (Article: “over 540,000 people dying from extreme heat each year”). Percentage of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) that assess risks to health facilities. (Article: “Only 54%”). Number of countries integrating health objectives into NDCs and NAPs.
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.5: Reduce deaths and economic losses from disasters, especially for vulnerable people.	Percentage of hospitals at risk of climate-related shutdowns. (Article: “1 in 12 hospitals worldwide”). Increased risk of damage to hospitals from extreme weather. (Article: “41% higher risk… compared to 1990”).
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all.	Percentage of health adaptation studies that consider income (less than 30%), gender (20%), and disability (less than 1%).
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.	Percentage of health adaptation studies that consider gender. (Article: “20%”).

Source: who.int