A notable agreement was signed today by 123 countries as part of COP28, known as the Climate and Health Declaration. Its core aim is to place health at the center of climate action and to acknowledge that cutting emissions and reducing pollution are essential for protecting people’s health. The declaration does not explicitly call for an immediate end to fossil fuels, which continue to be the leading source of emissions and pollution in many regions.
Supported by the Dubai COP28 presidency in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the declaration emphasizes that meaningful health benefits come from broad, cross-sector engagement. It highlights the need for rapid, large-scale changes to energy systems to drive down emissions by at least 10 percent in the near term and by a further 43 percent over the next seven years, according to the authors of the document.
Recent analyses cited by organizers show a troubling trend: pollution contributes to millions of deaths each year and exposes hundreds of millions to extreme weather events. The declaration was released just a day before the conference’s Health Day, the first time such a day has been dedicated within this summit to spotlight health protections against climate risks like heat waves, air pollution, and the spread of infectious diseases.
According to the COP28 presidency, climate change poses one of the most serious threats to human health in the 21st century. Governments are urged to recognize health as a critical component of climate policy and to act in unison to cut global emissions while shoring up health systems to withstand climate-related shocks. This perspective was echoed by the COP28 president, who framed the climate crisis as a health crisis that demands a stronger health focus in climate discussions.
World health leaders have stressed that protecting both the planet and its people requires low-emission solutions and resilient health infrastructures. As the director-general of the World Health Organization noted, health benefits arise from reducing pollution and ensuring cleaner air, safer water, and healthier soils. The declaration outlines concrete actions including building climate-resilient health systems, boosting cross-sector collaboration, and increasing financial support for climate and health initiatives to both lower emissions and maximize health gains from climate action.
Signatories commit to integrating health targets into national climate plans and to elevating international cooperation to manage health risks linked to climate change. This includes planning for future COP sessions and formalizing health-focused objectives within national and global climate frameworks.
Doctors call for an end to fossil fuels
Despite progress, critics argue the declaration stops short of a formal commitment from the health community for an expedited phase-out of fossil fuels as the sole path to recovery. The assertion that clean air, water, and soil underpin health reinforces the argument that energy choices profoundly affect well-being and quality of life.
Experts suggest that a safe and stable climate is a prerequisite for universal health, a stance backed by coalitions representing millions of health workers worldwide. Leading voices from the World Medical Association, the World Federation of Public Health Societies, and the International Council of Nurses underscore the need for stronger actions and clearer timelines to reduce dependence on coal and other fossil fuels.
Healthcare professionals view COP28 as a pivotal moment for health-centered climate policy. They advocate addressing the root causes of the climate crisis, including the extraction and ongoing use of coal, oil, and natural gas, and urge policymakers to pursue strategies that safeguard the health of current and future generations while improving the overall resilience of health systems against climate risks. Attribution for these positions comes from major health organizations and affiliated unions speaking in concert about the urgent need to align climate and health goals for a safer, healthier future. The emphasis remains clear: health outcomes depend on decisive, rapid actions that also support sustainable energy transitions.