From November 6 to 18, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust and numerous global partners, hosted the Health Pavilion at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. This groundbreaking initiative marked a major step forward in ensuring that health and equity are prioritized in global climate negotiations.
A Dedicated Platform for Health in Climate Dialogues
For the first time, the Health Pavilion offered a dedicated space within COP27 to convene the global health community, alongside policymakers, scientists, civil society, and environmental advocates. The Pavilion featured a comprehensive two-week program of panel discussions, roundtables, and high-level dialogues focused on the critical intersection of climate change and public health.
Organizers, including the WHO and its key partners, aimed to make clear that climate change is not only an environmental issue—but a public health emergency. The sessions provided compelling evidence and practical solutions for reducing health risks linked to climate change while also emphasizing the co-benefits of sustainable action for human health.
Topics of Global Relevance
The Pavilion’s programming addressed a wide range of pressing topics, including:
- The health impacts of climate change, such as air pollution, heat stress, vector-borne diseases, and food insecurity
- Building climate-resilient health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries
- Promoting sustainable, low-carbon health services and infrastructure
- Centering health equity by addressing the disproportionate climate burdens on vulnerable communities
By showcasing real-world initiatives and regional case studies, the Health Pavilion served as an inspiring knowledge hub. It highlighted how multisectoral collaboration—between health, climate, energy, transport, and food systems—is essential for developing effective and equitable climate responses.
Bridging Health and Climate Policy
One of the key messages emerging from the Health Pavilion at COP27 was the urgent need to integrate health into national and global climate policies. Doing so not only protects populations from the growing threats posed by climate change but also improves well-being, reduces healthcare costs, and strengthens the resilience of communities.
This initiative reinforced the WHO’s long-standing advocacy that climate action is health action. It also supported the broader COP27 goals of accelerating implementation, especially for adaptation and resilience measures that protect the most at-risk populations.
A Milestone for Future Action
The Health Pavilion at COP27 represented a milestone in global climate-health advocacy, setting a precedent for future climate conferences. By placing health at the heart of climate negotiations, the WHO and its partners amplified a clear call to action: the fight against climate change must be a fight for healthier, more equitable futures for all.
