WHO warns: Climate crisis is a global health crisis

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed, during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that the climate emergency is essentially an unprecedented health crisis. Climate change, far from being a hypothetical scenario, is already affecting human health, societies and economies around the world.

• The impact of the climate crisis on health

WHO warns that the effects of climate change have devastating consequences on health, including: Increased prevalence of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and cholera, favored by global warming and changes in the distribution of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes; Limited access to safe drinking water, due to droughts, pollution and salinization of water sources, which already affects 9.2 million children.

Intensification of extreme weather events, causing deaths, injuries and mass displacements. Floods, hurricanes and mega-fires are putting pressure on already overstretched health infrastructure; Agriculture is disrupted, exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition.

"Without immediate action, the rise of climate-related diseases and the collapse of health infrastructure could overwhelm health systems around the world," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

• Climate crisis: a challenge for international law

At the request of the UN General Assembly, the ICJ judges are being called upon to issue an advisory opinion on the responsibilities of states under international law in the face of the climate crisis. More than 100 countries and international organizations have presented arguments at the hearings, and a decision is expected in 2025. Key obligations include protecting other countries and future generations from the devastating effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Ghebreyesus called the climate crisis a global equity issue, stressing that "at the moment, not enough is being done to protect people's health."

• Urgent call for action

WHO is calling for urgent action to mitigate climate change and adapt to new realities, stressing that responding to this crisis is essential for the health and well-being of humanity. From reducing carbon emissions to strengthening health systems, any delay could have dramatic consequences for human life and global sustainability. "The world must act now. The climate crisis is here, and its effects are evident to all," the WHO director concluded.