The WFSA joined a 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) constituency statement calling on Member States to develop climate-resilient and climate-smart health systems.
WHA Agenda Item 18.3: Climate Change and Health.
Climate change is the most urgent global health threat, as highlighted in the 2025 WEF Global Risk Report. It is actively reshaping the global burden of disease (WHA 77.14), with increased vector-borne infectious and air pollution-related diseases, heat-related maternal mortality and morbidity, preterm and stillbirth, disaster-related trauma and a rise in UV-related skin cancers, infectious and inflammatory skin conditions.
Added are the risks of extreme weather events, food and water insecurity, proxy wars and mass migration, with disruption to social stability and development.
Low-emitting nations (e.g. Island States, the Sahel) bear the brunt while mitigation and adaptation measures are surpassed by climate change acceleration (WHA 77.14).
Surge capacity is required during climate-related emergencies and depends on integrated surgical, obstetric-gynaecological, trauma, anaesthesia and palliative care services, especially at first-level hospitals, with adequate essential equipment and medicines, including opioids.
We therefore request the WHO and Member States to:
- Reaffirm their commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
- Reduction and to climate resilient systems.
- Implement climate-smart operative care, including elimination of desflurane and piped nitrous oxide, more regional and intravenous anaesthesia, waste reduction and energy efficiency.
- Promote continuity in maternity care to keep C-section rates at 10-15%.
- Ensure access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in climate emergencies.
- Ensure adequate financing for health system adaptation and mitigation.
The statement is supported by:
- International Federation of Surgical Colleges and Societies (IFSCS Ltd)
- International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
- World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA)
- World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB)
- International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS)
- Women in Global Health Inc. (WGH)
- WaterAid International (WAi)
- International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Inc (IAHPC)
- World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS)
- International College of Surgeons (ICS)
- International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
- International Society of Radiology (ISR)
