The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a report that explores the interconnection between climate and health. The 2023 State of Climate Services report reveals the need for tailored climate information and services to support the health sector as it works to address extreme weather, poor air quality, shifting infectious disease patterns, and food and water insecurity.

The report warns that climate change undermines health and increases pressures on health systems, jeopardizing decades of progress to achieve good health and well-being (SDG 3), particularly in the most vulnerable communities. It highlights health protection as a priority in almost all countries and identifies the need for high-quality information for better decision making.

According to the report, climate information and services are essential for determining how and when climate extremes affect health systems and human health – and for managing risks. Its findings reveal “huge” potential for enhancing the accessibility, relevance, and uptake of climate science and climate services for the health sector.

The climate crisis is a health crisis… .

— WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The report’s other findings include:

• While extreme heat causes the greatest mortality of all extreme weather, heat warning services are provided to health decision makers in only half of the affected countries;
• Climate change mitigation leading to reducing air pollution can save lives; and
• Investments to improve the capabilities of the health sector to safeguard the most vulnerable are insufficient.

To fully harness the potential of climate services for health, the report calls for transformational change in institutional development and integration across the health and climate sectors.

“It is clear that by channeling investment and boosting collaboration, there is huge potential to go further and faster by enhancing the impact of climate science and services so that health partners get the support they need at a time when unprecedented changes to our climate are having an increasing impact,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas at the report’s launch.

To illustrate the benefits of climate services for health, the report highlights success stories from around the world.

The State of Climate Services report has been published annually since 2019. Produced under the auspices of the WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services, the 2023 report includes contributions from the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and numerous partners from regional organizations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the academia. The report was launched ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28), on 2 November 2023. [Publication: 2023 State of Climate Services: Health] [Publication Landing Page] [WMO Press Release]