WHA78 and the Climate-Health Intersection: Progress, Gaps, and Way Forward

This report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) provides reflections from its members on the outcomes of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May 2025. It details key policy achievements, such as the adoption of the Global Action Plan on Climate and Health and the first pandemic agreement, while highlighting critical gaps regarding fossil fuel phase-outs and implementation uncertainties.

• The dialogue surrounding climate and health has expanded at WHA78 to include a broader range of topics, including air pollution, extreme heat, just transition, and chemicals and plastics pollution. There has been a notable shift in youth engagement from 'symbolic representation towards substantive leadership', with youth now delivering remarks at plenaries and co-organizing high-level events.
• WHA78 saw the adoption of the world's first pandemic agreement. Experts emphasize that for this treaty to be effective, it must integrate climate resilience by recognizing how climate change increases risks of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases and weakens health systems.
• The Global Action Plan on Climate and Health (GAP) was adopted at WHA78 to implement the climate and health resolution from WHA77. The GAP is organized around three core areas: leadership, coordination, and advocacy; evidence and monitoring; and country-level action and capacity-building.
• Member states at WHA78 adopted an updated air pollution roadmap and the Integrated Lung Health Resolution. A first voluntary global target was established to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by half by 2040.
• Two resolutions were adopted to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), focusing on skin diseases and the eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease). This is noted as significant because several skin NTDs, including Onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, eumycetoma, and cutaneous leishmaniasis, are sensitive to climate changes.
• The adoption of the GAP faced political opposition. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Venezuela, supported by other Eastern Mediterranean countries, sought postponement to address financial feasibility, equity, and national contexts. Additionally, Japan, Australia, Germany, and the UK objected to the inclusion of language regarding Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capacities (CBDR-RC).
• Significant gaps remain in the WHA78 outcomes, most notably the total absence of any mention of phasing out fossil fuels. Furthermore, there is uncertainty regarding the implementation of the GAP, as health ministries often lack jurisdiction over transport or energy sectors, and the referenced budget of $161 million lacks a clear timeframe or allocation detail.

APA

Deivanayagam, A., Massazza, A., Kirk, A., Bhandari, C., Lawless, F., Marcus, H., Blom, I., Stanton, R., & Datta, R. (n.d.). WHA78 and the Climate-Health Intersection: Progress, Gaps, and Way Forward. Global Climate and Health Alliance. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Membership-report_updated-name.pdf

Chicago

Deivanayagam, Abi, Alessandro Massazza, Aoife Kirk, Chhavi Bhandari, Fiona Lawless, Hannah Marcus, Iris Blom, Rachael Stanton, and Rittika Datta. WHA78 and the Climate-Health Intersection: Progress, Gaps, and Way Forward. Global Climate and Health Alliance, n.d. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Membership-report_updated-name.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{deivanayagamndwha78, author = {Deivanayagam, Abi and Massazza, Alessandro and Kirk, Aoife and Bhandari, Chhavi and Lawless, Fiona and Marcus, Hannah and Blom, Iris and Stanton, Rachael and Datta, Rittika}, title = {{WHA78 and the Climate-Health Intersection: Progress, Gaps, and Way Forward}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Membership-report_updated-name.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }