WHO and the Netherlands renew their partnership on climate change and health

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have renewed their strategic partnership in addressing the growing impacts of climate change on global health.The Netherlands is providing a new allocation of €500 000 for 2024 to WHO, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience and sustainable healthcare systems worldwide. This allocation supports WHO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health Secretariat and advance climate change and health programmes globally.This contribution builds on the partnership established in 2023 between the Netherlands and WHO to collaborate on climate change and health. Together, they have supported African, Asian and Eastern Mediterranean countries in advancing the implementation of integrated climate and health surveillance and early warning systems, enhancing capacity to deliver on COP26 health commitments, helping harmonize early warning systems for health-related climate risks, and empowering countries to advance climate-resilient health system readiness.This partnership along with the support from other organizations is pivotal in assisting Member States in developing climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems. Engaging with relevant partners, including civil society, Multilateral Development Banks, UN Agencies, and health professionals in concerted action on climate change and health, is also a core activity.The Netherlands has been at the forefront of advocating climate action in health, aligned with the Dutch Global Health Strategy 2023-2030 which emphasizes the intersection of climate change and health. In addition, the Netherlands, together with Peru, led the adoption in 2024 of the World Health Assembly 77 Resolution on Climate Change and Health at the to renew the current one from 2008. Recognizing the increasing urgency and the need for accelerated efforts, the resolution calls for a WHO global action plan, increased national efforts and m...