Linking Health and Climate Action: Five recommendations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference from Santa Marta

This briefing outlines five recommendations developed in Santa Marta by health advocates and civil society leaders to integrate health and climate agendas for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

• The COP 31 Presidency has designated "Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems" as a priority theme for its Action Agenda, emphasizing the need for a structural transformation of health systems to better handle climate-related shocks.
• The briefing recommends moving from a narrow energy transition to a "Systemic Transformation" that rethinks production and consumption models and places health, equity, and well-being at the center of the transition.
• Health should be treated as a central result of the transition rather than just a co-benefit, with health metrics and indicators integrated into just transition frameworks to improve policy effectiveness and social support for decarbonization.
• National policies must expand their evaluation of health impacts to cover the entire fossil fuel value chain, specifically including the currently underestimated risks of petrochemicals, plastics, and fertilizers.
• Financial and fiscal policies should be aligned with actual health costs and benefits, which requires reforming subsidies, moving beyond carbon-only tax systems, and integrating health data into investment frameworks.
• To accelerate climate action and counter misinformation, there is a need to close gaps in evidence, communication, and capacity by investing in research, transparent data systems, and diverse spokespersons such as health professionals.

APA

Wagner,, M. G. (2026). Linking Health and Climate Action: Five recommendations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference from Santa Marta. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/health-and-climate-cop31

Chicago

Wagner,, Margarita Guiterez,Lynn. Linking Health and Climate Action: Five recommendations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference from Santa Marta. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/health-and-climate-cop31.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wagner, |first1=Margarita Guiterez,Lynn |title=Linking Health and Climate Action: Five recommendations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference from Santa Marta |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=14 May 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/health-and-climate-cop31 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wagner2026linking, author = {Wagner,, Margarita Guiterez,Lynn}, title = {{Linking Health and Climate Action: Five recommendations for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference from Santa Marta}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/health-and-climate-cop31}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }