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The WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate Change and Health calls on universities, accrediting bodies, and educators to ensure health professionals are equipped to handle the health impacts of climate change. The letter highlights a global lack of institutional support and formal educational programs, urging the integration of climate competencies into curricula and the pursuit of multi-sectoral collaborations to build resilient, low-carbon health systems.

The document describes the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a natural climate pattern consisting of warm (El Niño), cold (La Niña), and neutral phases driven by sea surface temperatures and pressures in the tropical Pacific. It details how these phases disrupt atmospheric circulation, affecting global precipitation and temperature. Specifically, La Niña is associated with wetter conditions in Australia and Indonesia and warmer, drier winters in the southern U.S., while El Niño is linked to drought in Australia and Indonesia and cooler, wetter winters in the southern U.S. The text emphasizes that while ENSO can nudge global temperatures, it does not mask the long-term warming trend caused by carbon pollution; for instance, 2022 remained the sixth hottest year on record despite a persistent La Niña. Historical data from the 2015-2016 El Niño event highlights severe consequences, including forest fires in Indonesia, flooding in Peru, and an estimated 60 million people impacted by extremes across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Virginia has four commercial sterilizers located in Richmond and Virginia Beach, with nearly 726,000 residents living within five miles of these facilities. In Richmond, the Sterilization Services of Virginia facility is linked to elevated cancer risks, with EtO emissions contributing 70 percent of the air toxics cancer risk in its census tract. The area surrounding this facility has a higher concentration of people of color and low-income residents compared to the county average. In Virginia Beach, Lifenet Health owns two sterilizers, one of which was penalized over $64,000 by the EPA for Clean Air Act violations.

RMI's analysis indicates that US states can secure significant federal investment, job growth, and health improvements by ambitiously adopting the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) tax credits, rebates, and grants. Under a "Climate Ambitious Scenario," states could see cumulative investments between $1 billion and $130 billion by 2030, with the highest per capita gains expected in states with strong renewable energy potential and industrial activity, such as Wyoming, Montana, and Louisiana.

The report demonstrates that implementing five core policies—clean electricity standards, zero-emission vehicle standards, clean building equipment standards, industrial efficiency and emissions standards, and methane detection and capture standards—can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Using the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), the authors find that these policies not only reduce emissions but also drive job growth, increase GDP, and prevent premature deaths by reducing air pollutants. The analysis highlights that while state emissions profiles vary—with Louisiana dominated by industry and New Mexico by methane from oil and gas—these five policies provide a consistent framework for decarbonization.

Benin has been implementing a nationally led National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process since 2013, integrating climate adaptation into national and communal development plans. The process has progressed through milestones including capacity building, vulnerability studies, and the 2022 launch of the NAP document. Priority sectors for adaptation include agriculture, health, ecosystems, infrastructure, freshwater resources, energy, coastlines, and tourism, addressing impacts such as floods, sea level rise, droughts, and excessive heat.

Benin has been implementing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process since 2013, focusing on integrating climate adaptation into national, local, and sectoral development planning. The process has involved national consultations via the National Committee on Climate Change (CNCC) and the integration of adaptation goals into the National Development Plan, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, and various communal development plans. Key climate impacts identified include floods, sea-level rise, droughts, and excessive heat, affecting priority sectors such as agriculture, health, ecosystems, infrastructure, freshwater resources, energy, coastal zones, and tourism.

The report documents widespread environmental degradation and human rights violations resulting from SMB's bauxite mining in Guinea. Key findings include severe air and water pollution, illegal land dispossession, inadequate compensation, and negative health outcomes for local communities. The audit concludes that SMB has violated multiple Guinean laws and international standards, leading to a loss of livelihoods and food security. The affected communities demand a restoration plan for livelihoods, rehabilitation of water sources, and the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant for an alumina refinery.

The document details how bauxite mining by the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) has led to severe environmental degradation, health crises, and systemic human rights violations across 24 villages in the Boké region. Key findings include widespread air and water pollution, the illegal dispossession of customary lands with inadequate compensation, and a lack of community participation in environmental and social impact assessments. The report concludes with demands for the SMB to implement resettlement and livelihood restoration plans and for the Guinean state to conduct independent impact studies and finalize regulatory frameworks.

The document reports on a survey of 378 CDC scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. While a majority of respondents agreed that the agency adhered to its scientific integrity policy, the findings highlight concerns regarding the omission of politically contentious words from scientific work and the extent to which COVID-19 science consistently informed policy decisions. The report advocates for the passage of the Scientific Integrity Act and strengthened agency policies to protect science from political, ideological, and financial interests.

A survey of 296 EPA scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that a majority of respondents believe the agency adheres to its scientific integrity policy and that office effectiveness has increased under President Biden compared to the Trump administration. However, the findings also highlight significant issues with staff burnout and concerns over limited workforce capacity and the quality of scientific reviews in specific offices.

A 2022 survey of FDA scientists by the Union of Concerned Scientists indicates a generally positive view of scientific integrity and a higher comfort level in expressing concerns without retaliation compared to previous administrations. While 198 of 239 respondents found agency actions consistent with scientific findings and 177 of 253 felt COVID-19 science informed policy, 50 of 236 scientists reported that senior leaders with conflicts of interest inappropriately influenced decisions.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) survey of federal scientists in 2022 indicates a general improvement in scientific integrity, morale, and job satisfaction under the Biden administration, particularly at the EPA, FWS, and USDA. While many scientists feel better protected from political interference, significant challenges persist, including critical staff capacity shortages leading to burnout, ongoing issues with censorship, and a lack of diversity in senior leadership at several agencies. The report also highlights the vulnerability of federal scientists to external harassment and bullying, especially those working on COVID-19 and climate change.

The document challenges the National Air Quality Officer's (NAQO) decisions to allow Eskom to delay compliance with emission standards. It argues that such postponements are unlawful under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) and the 2017 National Framework, particularly for plants in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA). The submission provides evidence of Eskom's extensive history of emission exceedances and the resulting health costs, including thousands of projected premature deaths. It further asserts that the technology to abate sulphur dioxide (SO2) is feasible and economically beneficial, contradicting Eskom's claims of impracticality.

ClientEarth argues that the European Commission's proposal for a recast Ambient Air Quality Directive lacks sufficient ambition and contains legal loopholes. The organization recommends aligning limit values with WHO Air Quality Guidelines by 2030, accelerating the timeline for 'Delivery Plans' to avoid widespread breaches in 2030, and introducing time-based financial sanctions for public authorities that fail to meet deadlines. It also advocates for maintaining and strengthening provisions for access to justice and health-related compensation for citizens.

The report assesses Senegal's climate adaptation landscape, highlighting a disconnect between top-down national policies and effective, endogenous community-led actions. While case studies in agriculture, coastal zones, and health demonstrate that local initiatives are well-aligned with NDC goals, they suffer from a lack of direct funding and institutional recognition. The document argues for a paradigm shift toward Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the country's climate resilience efforts.

The 2023 CleanAir NDC Scorecard reveals a significant gap between national climate pledges and the integration of air quality and health. While most NDCs mention air pollution, few quantify health impacts or set forward-looking targets. Low- and middle-income countries generally score higher than high-income nations, though many still face high air pollution mortality rates, highlighting a need for increased international finance to translate commitments into action.

The Healthy NDC Scorecard 2023 analyzes 58 NDCs to evaluate the integration of health into national climate policies. While 90% of analyzed NDCs mention health and climate linkages, the report finds a significant mismatch between health recognition and actual climate ambition, particularly in G20 nations. Low- and middle-income countries generally achieved the highest health scores, while several high-income nations scored zero. The report recommends enhanced intersectoral collaboration, the quantification of health co-benefits to secure financing, and the exclusion of the fossil fuel industry from climate policymaking.

The report details how the climate crisis is accelerating in Arizona, leading to increased drought, extreme heat, and flooding. It quantifies specific impacts—such as a 71% decline in Lake Mead's volume since 2000 and nearly 500 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County during the summer of 2023—and outlines the extensive infrastructure, public health, and water management costs required for adaptation.

The report analyzes how different audiences perceive the intersection of climate change and health and evaluates the effectiveness of various communication frames. It finds that framing climate change as a public health issue, particularly by emphasizing the health benefits of solutions (gain framing) and the harms of air pollution, can increase public engagement and reduce political polarization. The document highlights health professionals as highly trusted messengers who are generally willing to engage in advocacy but face barriers such as lack of time and specialized knowledge. It also notes that public officials exhibit varying levels of awareness and face institutional barriers to prioritizing climate-health issues. The report concludes with a research agenda calling for more diverse geographic data, better integration of equity in messaging, and the expansion of climate-health curricula in medical education.