A new COP31 partnership highlights climate and health links, urging action to protect vulnerable communities, strengthen resilient health systems and unlock finance across the Pacific, Bangladesh and Asia-Pacific region-wide globally.
A new COP31 partnership between Türkiye, Australia and Pacific nations is creating momentum to tackle urgent climate and health threats. Protecting human health is increasingly recognised as central to climate action, especially in vulnerable countries like Pacific nations and Bangladesh. Rising heat-related illnesses, unsafe drinking water and overcrowded hospitals during floods and cyclones already show the strain climate change places on public health systems.
The 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, in collaboration with the WHO, reports that rising global heat is now killing one person every minute. Continued climate inaction is costing lives, straining health systems and undermining economies.
Global Health Systems Take Action
At COP30, the Belém Health Action Plan was launched, providing a blueprint for health systems to adapt to climate extremes. The plan secured US$300 million in funding and was endorsed by global health leaders, highlighting the social and economic benefits of climate action, including improved public health.
Countries also adopted health indicators to monitor global progress on adaptation, marking a growing recognition that climate and health must go hand in hand.
Bangladesh on the Frontline
In Bangladesh, coastal communities and urban informal settlements face rising risks of malnutrition, waterborne diseases and maternal health complications from flooding, salinity intrusion and extreme heat. Health experts see COP31 as a potential turning point to place human health at the centre of global climate negotiations.
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, says:
“When floods, heatwaves and salinity destroy crops and livelihoods, the impacts are first felt through hunger, malnutrition and declining health, especially among women, children and marginalised communities. Climate action must treat health and nutrition as core pillars of resilience, adaptation and climate justice.”
Pacific Nations Lead the Way
For Pacific island nations, climate change directly affects food security, safe water, mental well-being and access to healthcare. Their leadership was evident at COP23 when Fiji presided over a special initiative addressing climate-related health impacts.
Today, Australia supports a Pacific Network on Climate and Health, strengthening regional cooperation and preparedness. The University of Melbourne is working with Pacific countries to improve responses to extreme heat, infectious diseases and climate-driven disasters.
Securing Pacific and Global Priorities at COP31
Türkiye will host COP31, while Australia leads formal negotiations. This partnership provides an opportunity to secure Pacific priorities, strengthen climate resilience and centre human health in global talks. Recent high-level roundtables with Pacific leaders and Brazil’s health representatives emphasised resilience, First Nations leadership, climate finance and decarbonising healthcare supply chains.
Brazil’s experience shows the importance of centring First Nations and Pacific communities in climate planning. COP30 clearly linked health, social and economic arguments to the transition away from fossil fuels, a narrative Australia and Türkiye can build on to develop a global roadmap for decarbonisation.
Unlocking Finance for Health and Climate
While funding for climate and health solutions has grown since COP28, access remains a barrier for many countries. COP31 could unlock finance to deliver real health gains across Asia-Pacific and beyond, especially in frontline countries facing sea-level rise, cyclones and extreme heat. Experts also stress the urgent need to decarbonise healthcare supply chains while ensuring essential care. In Bangladesh, low-carbon, climate-resilient health systems are critical for long-term sustainability.
COP31 could be transformative if governments prioritise frontline communities. By placing health at the centre of climate action, global talks can move beyond technical targets to focus on protecting lives, dignity and wellbeing worldwide.
