Kira Fortune: WHO highly values climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku

The World Health Organization (WHO) highly values the climate negotiations taking place at COP29 in Baku, Kira Fortune, representative of the WHO European Regional Office, said in an interview with Report.

She also noted the great interest of international delegations in discussing climate issues.

"Climate change is indeed a dangerous crisis that negatively affects healthcare among other things," Fortune emphasized.

She drew attention to the fact that southern EU countries are currently at the greatest risk from climate change. "We see storms in Spain and abnormal heat in Greece, all these are terrible consequences of climate change," added the WHO representative.

Speaking about the EU's readiness for a possible new pandemic that risks emerging as a result of the climate crisis, Fortune noted that the EU can learn valuable lessons from the COVID-19 situation. "Many lessons can be learned from COVID-19. We are ready to use our experience if necessary," she concluded.

According to WHO, climate change is already leading to an increase in infectious diseases, more frequent natural disasters, and negatively affecting food security. The organization's experts urge the global community to intensify efforts to combat the climate crisis to prevent catastrophic consequences for human health and the economy.