WHO Urged to Declare Climate Change a Global Public Health Emergency

As record-breaking heat and extreme weather batter the Northern Hemisphere, and the Southern Hemisphere braces for a summer of heat waves, floods, wildfires, and droughts, pressure is mounting on the World Health Organization (WHO) to formally declare climate change a public health emergency. The current crisis is driven by decades of human-induced climate change, now supercharged by a powerful El Niño—the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, a natural cycle of Pacific Ocean warming and cooling that disrupts weather patterns worldwide. This combination has amplified health risks, from heat-related illnesses and respiratory problems due to wildfire smoke to waterborne diseases and mental health impacts. Experts argue that an official WHO declaration would unlock resources, raise global awareness, and catalyze urgent action to protect vulnerable populations, particularly in low-income countries that contribute least to emissions but suffer the most. The call comes as health systems worldwide face unprecedented strain from climate-related emergencies. Such a declaration could mark a turning point in integrating climate and health policy, but time is running out as the planet continues to warm.