Nadi, Fiji—07/10/2026—A High-Level Convening on Climate Change and Health was hosted by Wellcome Trust and Clima Trust (formerly SLYCAN Trust) at the sidelines of the Pacific Pre-COP 31 in partnership with the Republic of Fiji.

Climate change is a clear threat to human health and wellbeing, including through heat, air pollution, increased food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases, food and nutritional insecurity and mental health impacts. Accordingly, health has become more prominent in the context of multilateral climate negotiations and policy processes, including in formal agenda items, Presidency initiatives, and the Global Climate Action Agenda.

With Pre-COP 31 presenting a final milestone to elevate key messages for COP 31 in Antalya, Türkiye, next month, the convening aimed to raise the profile and ambition around the nexus of health and climate change. It provided a platform for high-level reflections and the identification of concrete priorities to strengthen climate-resilient and equitable health outcomes at COP31 Türkiye. The event built on previous engagements such as the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Health, and Security hosted by Clima Trust and Wellcome Trust during the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin earlier this year.

“COP31 must advance the global commitment to address the impact of climate change on health by prioritising adaptation finance for health, ensuring direct and simplified access for LDCs and SIDS, and investing in climate-resilient health systems, improved data and monitoring systems, and the protection of frontline workers,” stated Dr. Sivendra Michael , Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change of Fiji. “Health must be a climate finance priority—not an afterthought,” he highlighted.

“Climate action is not only about reducing carbon emissions or meeting international targets. It is about protecting lives, preventing illness and creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities. Health must not simply be a part of the conversation during climate conferences, but one of the main measures by which we judge our success,” emphasised Hon. The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, Chair of Wellcome Trust and former Prime Minister of Australia. “We must work across sectors and borders to respond to climate change—and we already know many of the solutions. Science shows us the way, and at COP 31—and beyond—we must have the courage and conviction to take those actions that will protect lives and livelihoods now and into the future.”

Interventions from other high-level speakers highlighted expectations for a strong focus on health at COP 31 in light of escalating climate impacts and the health risks associated with overshooting 1.5°C. Speakers acknowledge the leading role the Pacific has played in elevating health under the UNFCCC and emphasized that health is an issue through which Parties can demonstrate that multilateralism works. COP 31 was also identified as an opportunity to bring together health and finance ministers to ensure that projects at the climate-health nexus are properly funded.

Speakers included:

• H. E. Mukhtar Babayev, COP 29 President and Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues
• H.E. Felix Wertli, Ambassador for the Environment and Head of International Affairs, Switzerland
• Mr. Manjeet Dhakal on behalf of the Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group
• Mr. Abdiel Douglas, Deputy Lead Negotiator of Panama, on behalf of the Chair of AILAC
• Prof. Rachel Kyte CMG, Special Representative for Climate, United Kingdom
• Ms. Joanna MacGregor, Chief of Strategy and UN Affairs of the UNFCCC

Existing entry points under the UNFCCC were examined, including the health targets under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and health elements within the Belém Adaptation Indicators, which speakers stressed as key to measuring the health outcomes of adaptation implementation. Interventions also emphasized that Nationally Determined Contributions are a way to address health as a cross-cutting issue alongside Health National Adaptation Plans. The importance of the just transition for the health of workers and the potential of the Just Transition Mechanism established at COP 30 were raised alongside the need to weave health across workstreams under the UNFCCC.

Speakers also stressed the importance of utilizing synergies between United Nations entities and processes, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the UNFCCC, to create the most effective response. The Belém Health Action Plan and the WHO’s Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health for 2025–2028 were highlighted as concrete opportunities to strengthen synergies.

The importance of means of implementation, including finance with simplified access, was a recurrent theme. Interventions also underscored how technology and data for climate-informed early warning and health surveillance systems, alongside capacity-building for health workers, are critical enablers for advancing action.

The formal part of the event was concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Julia Gardiner, Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation. “Health is an issue through which Parties can demonstrate that multilateralism works. It is increasingly reflected in both the outcomes of the UNFCCC process and in the practical actions that Parties are taking on the ground. The climate and health agenda has also benefited enormously from partnerships, which have mobilized many actors around a shared agenda and helped to translate political commitments into action, identify synergies, and deliver more effective outcomes. I look forward to working with you all at COP 31 as we consider how to implement this important issue throughout the different workstreams of the UNFCCC and ultimately make a real difference on the ground,” she said.

The outcomes of the dialogue, including the identification of key thematic and procedural priorities for the climate-health agenda and the forthcoming summary report, will contribute to broader discussions at COP 31, including during the dedicated Health Day on 9 November and under the priority theme of “Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems” in the COP 31 Action Agenda.

The Pacific Pre-COP 31 took place from 5 to 8 October in Fiji and Tuvalu. It was hosted by Australia—COP 31 Presidency of the Negotiations—in partnership with Fiji, Tuvalu, and Pacific partners.

Clima Trust works at the global, regional, and national level to foster transformative action towards climate resilience, sustainable development, and innovative solutions. Our work programme on climate and health is one of our flagship workstreams, through which we aim to enhance action and strengthen synergies across the climate-health nexus.

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. It is a global charitable foundation that supports discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and focuses on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health.

A selection of photographs from the convening can be found here.

For further comment from Clima Trust please contact: info@climatrust.org

For further comment from Wellcome please contact: mediaoffice@wellcome.org