WHPA Urges COP30 to Build Climate-Smart, Health Professional-Led Health Systems under the Belém Health Action Plan

As the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) begins in Belém, Brazil, the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is calling on governments and global leaders to ensure that health professionals are at the centre of implementing the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), the new global roadmap for climate-resilient and sustainable health systems.

The WHPA stresses that urgent, coordinated action is needed to build climate-smart, health professional-led health systems capable of protecting both patients and those who care for them.

“Strengthening, protecting, and meaningfully engaging health professionals must be central to every national implementation of the Belém Health Action Plan. A safe, well-supported health workforce is fundamental to safeguarding both patient safety and the sustainability of health systems worldwide”, said Dr Otmar Kloiber, Chair of WHPA and Secretary General of the World Medical Association.

The Alliance commends the leadership of the COP30 Presidency and the World Health Organization (WHO) in developing the Belém Health Action Plan, to be adopted during COP30 Health Day, and welcomes its strong focus on strengthening the health workforce as a cornerstone of global health resilience.

WHPA encourages the WHO and COP30 Presidency to formally engage health professionals and their representative bodies in the next stages of developing, implementing, and monitoring the Belém Health Action Plan and reiterates its readiness to support translating the Belém Health Action Plan into concrete national action.

Lastly, WHPA urges all governments to invest in the health workforce, strengthen occupational safety, and integrate climate-health considerations across all policies, ensuring that health systems are prepared for the realities of climate change.