The 78th World Health Assembly will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19 to May 27, 2025. This year’s theme is One World for Health. The event will focus on global health challenges, with a strong emphasis on climate change and its impact on health. The sessions will be webcast live with simultaneous interpretation available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
During the assembly, member states and the World Health Organization will finalize the Draft Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health. This plan follows the climate change and health resolution adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly last year. The WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work for 2025 to 2028 identifies climate change as one of its six key strategic objectives. This plan is designed to guide countries on how to respond effectively to health risks related to climate change, such as heatwaves, air pollution, and the spread of diseases.
Several member states and partner organizations will host side events focusing on the intersection of climate change and health. These side events will be held alongside the main assembly to provide opportunities for discussion and collaboration on innovative solutions. Information about these events can be found on the ClimaHealth Portal and the UN Foundation’s official webpage, which provides a full calendar of the side events during the assembly.
The World Health Organization is focusing on building climate resilience and strengthening health systems to withstand environmental changes. The assembly will review current progress and discuss further actions to protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of climate change.
Health and climate change are closely linked, as rising temperatures and environmental shifts affect air quality, water availability, and disease patterns. International cooperation is seen as essential to tackling these challenges. The One World for Health theme underlines the importance of countries working together across borders to develop effective strategies.
