Headwinds from Climate Politics at WHO Executive Board Meeting [EB154]

Newsletter Edition #208 [The Files In-Depth]

Hi,

Health and politics have been the signature cocktail for global health, and now add the climate crisis to this mix, and what you have is a recipe for ever-growing complexity in the multilateral governance of this field.

Our edition today marks some of the discussions on climate and health at the on-going WHO Executive Board meeting that began in Geneva earlier this week. We also bring you voices from activists working at this intersection of this complex crisis.

Also see an analysis by one of my young colleagues, on the commitments to health from COP28 late in 2023.

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Our gratitude to our subscribers who ensure we stay in the game!

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Watch out for our continued coverage from the EB this week. And drop me an email if you are in Geneva for the EB, and want to chat!

Until later.

Best,

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com, Follow us on X: @filesgeneva

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I. THE CLIMATE & HEALTH BRIEFING

PART I

Headwinds from Climate Politics at WHO Executive Board Meeting [EB154]

Headwinds from the climate politics blew into the WHO Executive Board meeting that began in Geneva this week.

Even as there is recognition that our planet is inflamed by the climate crisis with existential implications on human health, among other far-reaching consequences, some countries including Russia, North Korea, this week, objected to WHO’s additional efforts to address these challenges at this crucial intersection.

One of WHO’s key strategic objectives going forward is addressing the health impacts of climate change. The framing of the climate crisis as a health crisis is now here to stay. Not only will donors vote with their feet for such a direction, it appears that stakeholders across the board align with this transition.

To be sure, it is far from clear whether the underlying structural drivers of climate change will ever be addressed at WHO, irrespective of the real and potential health impacts of this crisis.

Image Credit: Photo by Curioso Photography, Pexels