The COP30 climate summit came to an end with mixed feelings. Many hoped for stronger outcomes on fossil fuel phase-out and climate finance, and there was a shared sense that progress on these issues remains difficult. But within the complex and often demanding negotiations, one development stood out as both meaningful and long overdue: health finally gained the visibility it deserves. For the first time, health was formally featured on the COP agenda, reflecting a growing understanding that climate change is not only an environmental or economic issue but a profoundly human one—a crisis already taking a dramatic toll on communities and health systems around the world. Against this backdrop, the health track at COP30 achieved unprecedented visibility, ambition, and mobilization.
Together with our partners, our teams worked throughout 2024 and 2025 to ensure that climate-sensitive infectious diseases, innovation, and equity were firmly embedded in the global conversation on climate and health. This included providing inputs into the development of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), coordinating with partners at COP30, and supporting health-focused negotiations under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).
DNDi’s contribution to the BHAP: Ensuring climate-sensitive infectious diseases and innovation are not left behind
DNDi worked closely with the Brazilian Ministry of Health, PAHO/WHO, Fiocruz, and international partners, including CEPI, MMV, Unitaid, and Gavi, to help shape the BHAP—from early drafts to the final negotiated plan. Our contribution helped ensure that the plan:
- Includes concrete actions to prevent, detect, test, and treat climate-sensitive infectious diseases;
- Places biomedical innovation and equitable access to health tools at its core – including tools adapted to extreme heat, unstable supply chains, and climate-vulnerable settings; and
- Embeds community engagement, social participation, and implementation grounded in lived realities.
The launch of the BHAP – endorsed by more than 80 countries – on COP30’s historic Health Day is a milestone in global climate governance. Its vision aligns strongly with DNDi’s mission: innovation with equity, leaving no neglected community behind.
Building a coalition for climate-sensitive infectious diseases
Together with CEPI, Gavi, Unitaid, MMV, and Fiocruz, DNDi organized an official COP30 side event dedicated to climate-sensitive infectious diseases at the summit’s Health Pavilion. This coordinated effort put the spotlight on dengue, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, chikungunya, and other neglected diseases and ensured that Indigenous leaders, youth, and community advocates – whose voices belong at the centre of climate and health discussions – had the space and visibility to lead and shape the conversations.
Ensuring community leadership and democratic participation
There was a very vibrant civil society presence in Belém. DNDi marched alongside advocates, supported the launch of the Brazilian Health & Climate Network, and strengthened ties with Indigenous, territorial, and community organizations. This COP reaffirmed a core principle: the health response to the climate crisis will only succeed if it is shaped by those most affected.
Supporting negotiations under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)
DNDi has been following the GGA process closely over the last two years. From the outset, our teams have advocated for the inclusion of indicators on climate-sensitive infectious diseases under the health thematic target. ‘Level of incidence of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, including as an outcome of adaptation actions where applicable’ is one of the final 59 indicators that the negotiators adopted. This indicator is essential for tracking the shifting burden of climate-sensitive diseases and guiding adaptation measures in a warming world.
Our contributions have underscored the need for data that reflects the realities of the most climate-vulnerable populations, and we have called for adaptation efforts that include the development and availability of suitable health tools—including diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. We have also stressed the importance of implementing adaptation measures such as strengthening real-time surveillance, early warning systems, public health communication, and access to necessities such as clean water, sanitation, and primary healthcare. These elements are essential for enabling countries to respond effectively to the health impacts of climate change.
A stronger mandate for climate and health moving forward
With the BHAP launched, new funding committed by the Climate & Health Funders Coalition, and infectious diseases firmly recognized as a climate-impact channel, COP30 created a foundation on which DNDi and partners can meaningfully build. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition marked Health Day with a USD 300 million commitment to drive innovation and strengthen climate-resilient health systems.
Our teams returned from Belém with stronger alliances and clarity in our mandate: to accelerate innovation for climate-sensitive infectious diseases and ensure equitable access to health tools that protect the most affected populations.
We remain committed to supporting countries, communities, and global partners in turning commitments into action. Over the decades, climate debates have evolved – from centring on ecology to centring on economics. In Belém, we centred the conversation on people and bringing the health impacts of the climate crisis into full view. New commitments to climate-resilient health systems for healthy populations must now be transformed into tangible action.
Photo credit: Fernando Sette-DNDi
