The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the impact of climate change on health should take centre stage in the climate negotiations in Dubai.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says it is imperative to broaden the focus on human health in the discussions and to compel negotiators to recognise that they bear the responsibility for the well-being of populations worldwide.

“As the world unites at COP28, we urge negotiators to recognize that climate action is health action, and failure to address this reality will have profound consequences for the well-being of current and future generations,” says Dr Ghebreyesus (pictured).

He said prioritising health is not just a choice but the foundation of resilient societies.

Leaders, he added, must deliver in Dubai by providing the strong health outcomes their people expect and their economies urgently need.

The extreme weather events around the world in recent months, the WHO boss said, offer a terrifying glimpse of what lies ahead in a rapidly heating world.

According to WHO, in two decades, heat-related deaths among those aged over 65 years have risen by 70 per cent worldwide.

Increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as droughts, floods and heat waves, will also strain healthcare infrastructure.

Forecasts by World Bank indicate that without bold and immediate action, climate change could displace some 216 million people by 2050.

“As the climate crisis jeopardizes lives and livelihoods, global food systems will struggle to sustain a growing population, and compromised water sources will compound the challenges.

Climate change will also catalyze a surge in infectious diseases like dengue and cholera, endangering millions. Now is the time for decisive and collaborative action to mitigate the health impacts of the climate crisis and build a sustainable future for all,” he added.

He says climate change poses an unprecedented challenge to health systems and called on governments to strengthen health systems to be resilient, low carbon and sustainable.

“Climate change is not a distant threat, it is a present danger affecting our health on multiple fronts. We must change the conversation and demonstrate the massive benefits of bolder climate action on our health and well-being,” he says.