By Destiny Obinna
The World Medical Association (WMA) will lead a global call for stronger action to protect human health from the growing impacts of climate change as it sends a delegation to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20.
The association said its delegation would engage policymakers, development partners and civil society organisations during the conference to push for the integration of health considerations into global climate policies and national commitments.
Representing physicians across the world, the WMA warned that climate change was no longer merely an environmental concern but one of the greatest threats to human health, requiring urgent and coordinated international action.
It said its advocacy would focus on recognising the distinct rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in climate and health policies, strengthening resilient and sustainable health systems, and ensuring that climate action promotes health equity.
The association’s position is guided by its Declaration of Delhi on Health and Climate Change, revised by the 77th WMA General Assembly in Rotterdam in October 2026.
WMA President, Dr Jung Yul Park, said climate change was already affecting patients across the world and should be treated as an immediate health emergency rather than a distant threat.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant threat facing only future generations. It is a health emergency affecting patients today, in every region of the world.
“At COP31, physicians will speak with one voice: protecting the climate is protecting health, and every climate decision should be judged by its impact on people’s health and lives.”
Drawing attention to the latest evidence presented in the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report, the WMA called on governments to recognise the serious health consequences of climate change and accelerate efforts to address its causes.
It urged countries to pursue a rapid and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels while ensuring a just transition for workers and communities whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
The association also called for stronger climate adaptation and preparedness measures, particularly to protect populations most vulnerable to the health consequences of extreme weather and environmental changes.
It further urged governments and development partners to increase climate financing, with dedicated funding to build resilient health systems capable of withstanding climate-related shocks.
According to the WMA, health must no longer be treated as an afterthought in climate negotiations but should be fully integrated into international agreements, national climate commitments and their implementation.
The association maintained that protecting human health must remain central to climate action, insisting that governments must recognise the direct connection between environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of populations.
