WHO Joins Pacific Leaders in Fiji to Push Health in Climate Action Ahead of COP31

The World Health Organization is participating in the Pre‑COP31 summit in Fiji (5‑8 October) to advance health priorities for the upcoming COP31 in Antalya, Turkey. Health is one of ten focus areas for the COP31 Action Agenda, and a dedicated Health Day will be held on 9 November. WHO officials highlighted the Pacific’s acute climate risks—extreme heat, cyclones, floods, sea‑level rise—and the vulnerability of health facilities, with 62 % of hospitals in 14 island countries located within 500 m of the sea or a river. The organization will co‑convene sessions on climate resilience, adaptation, financing and implementation, stressing that climate finance must reach the most exposed communities. WHO also plans to support a Health Pavilion at COP31, aiming to embed health considerations in climate policies and investments worldwide.