Minister: Climate change impacts threaten resilience of health systems

The health impacts of climate change are already being felt in every corner of the world. These impacts threaten not only the well-being of individuals but also the resilience of our health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, Azerbaijan's Minister of Health Teymur Musayev said at the high-level ministerial meeting on issues of health within COP29 in Baku, according to Report.

"Today, we take an important step forward in our collective commitment to confronting these challenges," he said.

According to him, together with the World Health Organization, Azerbaijan seeks to keep climate change and health in the spotlight of the global agenda.

Musayev noted that the the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health will be created to this end and coordinated by Azerbaijan in partnership with the United Kingdom, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil.

This initiative is grounded in the belief that continuity is essential to building meaningful change.

"Each of the countries represented here today has made significant strides in recognising the health dimensions of climate action. And as we look towards the future, the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition will ensure that these efforts continue to grow, evolve, and deliver tangible results," the minister said.

He noted that previous initiatives like the COP26 Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), the COP27 Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN), and the COP28 Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions have already set important foundations.

"But we need to do more," he said.

Musayev also noted that the Coalition will strengthen ambition by supporting the implementation of existing initiatives and improving synergy between them.

"It will serve as a platform for dialogue among COP Presidencies and stakeholders from all sectors of society, ensuring continuity from COP to COP," he said.

"Second, we must ensure the delivery of pledged climate finance—including for health-focused efforts," he said.

According to the minister, the Continuity Coalition will encourage financial providers to honor their commitments and evaluate progress on these commitments during annual high-level meetings.