Por: Charlotte Reboul
External contributor INFORSE
Born in France, raised in Canada and now working in the Caribbean, I have seen how climate change manifests differently across regions. Despite these differences, the consequences for human health are becoming increasingly visible around the world.
This summer, France experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C, devastating wildfires and one of the deadliest heatwaves in recent memory, with at least 5,700 excess deaths in June alone, a 36.2% increase over expected mortality.
Meanwhile, Canada saw a surge in emergency department visits amidst wildfires affecting air quality.
Across the Caribbean, intense storms continue to damage critical infrastructure and disrupt access to healthcare. In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa left 75% of the hospitals and clinics in affected areas inoperable.
These experiences are not comparable in scale, and some communities bear a far greater burden than others, despite having contributed little to the problem. Yet, they point to the same conclusion: climate change is no longer a future threat. It is here, now.
Paradoxically, these events are unfolding at a moment when climate change has slipped down the policy agenda.
For many people, climate change can understandably feel distant compared with the immediate pressures of economic uncertainty and security concerns. But health does not. Whether it is our own wellbeing, that of our children, parents or communities, health is personal. This may be why health could become one of the most compelling pathways for turning concern about climate change into concerted action.
The World Health Organization has long argued that climate change is fundamentally a health issue and describes it as the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. The 2025 Lancet Countdown found that heat-related mortality has already increased by 63% since the 1990s.
Encouragingly, health systems around the world are demonstrating that building climate resilience while reducing emissions is possible. In the Caribbean, PAHO’s Smart Hospitals initiative helped strengthen health facilities through upgraded infrastructure, solar panels, backup energy, generators and rainwater-harvesting systems. In Jamaica, facilities that had received resilience investments continued providing essential services during hurricane Melissa, demonstrating the value of investing before disasters strike.
While just 0.5% of multilateral climate finance currently goes to health, major philanthropic organisations including Wellcome, the Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Rockefeller Foundation have joined forces through the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, with an initial commitment of US$300 million, to accelerate the development and implementation of climate and health solutions .
As attention turns to COP31, many will be looking for tangible signs of progress. The climate and health agenda offers that. It is grounded in practical solutions that can protect lives, strengthen communities and build resilience.
Health may not be the only bridge between climate impacts and climate action, but it could offer one of the most powerful, relatable and actionable pathways for turning growing concern into meaningful progress.
Citas_
Work cited
Santé publique France. (2026). Heat Waves and Health: Excess Mortality During the Heat Wave from June 17 to July 2, 2026. Heat Waves and Health: Excess Mortality During the Heat Wave from June 17 to July 2, 2026 | Santé publique France
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). (2025). Smart Hospitals in Jamaica Demonstrate Health System Resilience. Smart Hospitals in Jamaica demonstrate health system resilience – PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Climate Change and Health.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health
The Lancet Countdown. (2025). The 2025 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Climate Change Action Offers a Lifeline.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(2501919-1/fulltext)
World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). Climate Inaction Is Claiming Millions of Lives Every Year, Warns New Lancet Countdown Report.
https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2025-climate-inaction-is-claiming-millions-of-lives-every-year–warns-new-lancet-countdown-report
Climate and Health Funders Coalition / Wellcome. (2025). Global Philanthropies Commit US$300 Million to Accelerate Solutions on Climate and Health.
https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/global-philanthropies-commit-300-million-accelerate-solutions-climate-and-health
Quadrature Climate Foundation. (2025). Global Philanthropies Commit $300m to Accelerate Solutions on Climate and Health.
https://www.qc.foundation/news-and-research/Global-philanthies-commit-300m/
CBC News. (2024). Migraine-Related Hospital Visits Spike During Periods of Wildfire Smoke, Canadian Study Finds.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/migraine-wildfire-study-9.7282333
adelphi. (2024). The Nexus of Adaptation and Health Finance.
https://adelphi.de/en/projects/the-nexus-of-adaptation-and-health-finance
