Health systems witness the devastating impacts of climate change every day—from treating heat-related illnesses to responding to climate-driven disease outbreaks—while coping with increasingly frequent and intense climate-related events. To protect the communities, there is an urgent need to strengthen the climate resilience of health systems that can adapt and respond to shocks and stresses, while also reducing emissions and forging a path towards net-zero healthcare.

This year, the 30th annual Conference of the Parties (COP) will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025, and Health Care Without Harm and our strategic partners, Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis (Brasil) and the Climate and Health Alliance (Australia), are participating to elevate the voice of the healthcare sector and drive commitments to accelerate climate action.

Health Care Without Harm is collaborating with the COP30 Presidency and the UN Climate High-Level Champions, highlighting how innovation on climate adaptation and mitigation is already happening, with health systems in different regions committing to taking action.

Around the world, organizations are building momentum in the lead-up to COP30, calling for actions, ambitions, and commitments to protect health.

• “Climate is Health, Health is Climate” manifesto: Launched by Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis, our strategic partner in Brazil. Endorsed by over 200 health organizations and health leaders from Brazil, it articulates the conceptual foundations of the climate-health nexus and proposes different principles and action guidelines for the health sector and public authorities to address the new climate scenario.
• Common position of Latin America and the Caribbean on Climate Change and Health ahead of COP30: Coordinated by the Global Climate and Health Alliance, and developed in collaboration with Health Care Without Harm’s Latin America team, this region-wide declaration, endorsed by over 50 health organizations in the region, including Health Care Without Harm, outlines six strategic pillars: health protection, mitigation, adaptation, climate justice, leadership, and financing. Rooted in scientific evidence and local knowledge, equity considerations, and social determinants of health, the Position calls for bold, integrated climate action that puts people’s health at the center.
• Southeast Asia Climate & Health Manifesto for COP30 - Health as the Core Benefit of Climate Action: Coordinated by Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, the manifesto coalesces the voices of representatives of health professionals, civil society, academic institutions, policymakers, patient advocates, and community organizations from Southeast Asia, to affirm: Health is not a co-benefit of climate action—it is the core benefit and ultimate measure of climate ambition.

• August 26-27 | Virtual Forum - Road to COP30 - Climate Action for Health in Latin America and the Caribbean: Organized by the Health Care Without Harm team for Latin America, the event provided a regional forum for key players in the health sector to reflect on their role in addressing the climate crisis. Recordings are available here in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
• October 9 | European Healthcare Climate Summit: The meeting, organized by Health Care Without Harm Europe, showcased how healthcare institutions and professionals are driving climate action across regions and systems. The program featured proven climate mitigation actions to cut healthcare’s climate impact, climate adaptation measures that enhance resilience at the system and facility level, and real-world case studies and replicable innovations. More information.
• October 26-28 | Climate + Health Summit 2025: Organized by the Climate and Health Alliance of Australia, the summit brought together stakeholders from across health, community, government, and industry to inspire collaboration and create sustainable, resilient communities. As Australia and the Pacific bid to host international climate negotiations through COP31, the sessions highlighted how health can play a leading role, and the opportunity this presents for building resilience in the Pacific. More information.
• October 28-30 | Brasil - Seminário Hospitais Saudáveis: Organized by Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis. Under the motto “Climate is Health, Health is Climate”, the 18th edition of the Seminário Hospitais Saudáveis [Healthy Hospitals Seminar] will bring together different stakeholders from the health sector to discuss innovative and transformative solutions to socio-environmental challenges in the health sector. More information.

Photo: Josh Karliner, Health Care Without Harm.