Climate change has become an undeniable driver of adverse health outcomes worldwide, with evidence mounting on its multifaceted impacts. However, the burden of climate-related health risks is not evenly distributed. Populations more likely to be affected are those exposed to higher risks due to social, economic and environmental factors, including socioeconomic deprivation, geographic location and occupational exposure. Populations in situations of vulnerability – as well as children, pregnant women, older adults, ethnic minorities and those living in low-lying coastal or flood-prone areas – face disproportionate impacts, compounded by social determinants that limit their capacity to cope and adapt. This differential vulnerability underscores the critical importance of integrating health equity into climate and health action.
Despite increasing awareness of these disparities, most climate–health initiatives have focused broadly on population-wide impacts, often neglecting the specific needs of populations and territories in situations of vulnerability. Therefore, there is a necessity to take an equity-based approach, ensuring that adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building efforts explicitly address social inequities, leaving no one behind.
This Transatlantic Dialogue on Climate and Health is the fourth in a series of a joint initiative by WHO/Europe and the Pan American Health Organization. Specifically focussing on climate change and health equity this dialogue aims to:
- share knowledge on the differential impacts of climate change among population groups across countries and regions, including exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity;
- exchange experiences on successful interventions that integrate health equity in climate action while acknowledging common and region-specific challenges;
- foster a collaborative dialogue and stimulate further collaboration towards actionable policy recommendations and strategies that integrate a health equity lens.
This dialogue will provide input to develop a summary for policy-makers on advancing health equity-oriented approaches for climate action for Member States on both sides of the Atlantic.
Languages
English and Spanish