19 November 2013: The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a document on guidance to protect health from climate change through health adaptation planning to support the integration of health adaptation planning in national adaptation plans (NAPs).

Released on the sidelines of the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), this guidance aims to support decision makers in planning adaptation actions to protect health from climate variability and change within the NAP framework.

The document lays out a systematic process to ensure coordination between the health and the environment sector and related communities in order to: engage the health sector in the overall NAP process; identify national strategic goals for building health resilience to climate change; and develop a national plan and priorities to achieve these goals. The document provides further guidance on building climate resilient health systems at the country level. It was used in a series of workshops on preparing national action plans in African countries. [Publication: WHO Guidance to Protect Health from Climate Change through Health Adaptation Planning][Global Climate & Health Alliance]