Ministers, Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) Member and partner organization representatives, and climate-health experts from across the globe convened at the Health Pavilion at the thirty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) . This marked the fourth ATACH Day, with the goal to move beyond pledges and into practical implementation.
This year’s ATACH Day, themed “From commitments to implementation: Country solutions for climate and health,” aimed to provide further space to countries showcasing the positive solutions they are implementing in their respective countries. The Antalya Initiative for Health Resilience (AIR) , launched by Türkiye as the COP31 Presidency, will further strengthen experience sharing among countries as an important mechanism to advance dynamic and climate resilient health systems. The coordination and technical facilitation of AIR will be undertaken through ATACH.
“We regard AIR as one of our most significant concrete contributions of our COP31 presidency.” said H.E. Professor Dr Kemal Memişoğlu, Minister of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, “AIR is an initiative aimed at translating global political will in climate and health into concrete country-level implementations.”
Following COP31 Health Day, ATACH Day was held in six sessions including high-level sessions opening and closing proceedings with interventions from ministers of health of ATACH Member countries. The Health Pavilion was packed to the brim with implementers, health ministers, partner organizations and climate and health experts – showcasing the global desire for concrete action.
Interventions at the high-level opening session underscored the urgency of translating climate and health commitments into tangible action. H.E. Professor Dr Kemal Memişoğlu welcomed participants to Türkiye alongside Professor Zoe Wainer, Director General of the Australian Centre for Disease Control, with Australia holding the COP31 Presidency of Negotiations.
The day was well-attended by health ministers from across WHO regions, demonstrating a deep understanding of the interlinkages of health and climate by policy-makers. High-level participants included H.E. Dr Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Health, Brazil; H.E. Dr Michael Ronald Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of the Bahamas; H.E. Dr Sasho Klekovski, Minister of Health, North Macedonia; and H.E. Mr Tuafafa Latasi, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Tuvalu.
ATACH Secretariat Lead, Ms Elena Villalobos Prats of the Climate Change, Energy and Air Pollution Unit, WHO, presented the Alliance’s priorities for 2026–2028, emphasizing the need for country-led approaches and strengthened capacity building. New engagement mechanisms – ATACH thematic Communities of Practice and an Executive Fellowship – were launched, providing ATACH Members with new ways to collaborate, connect and build capacity and bring the Alliance closer to countries and their realities on the ground.
Regional perspectives, country spotlights and community voices
Representatives from health ministries in the six WHO regions presented their perspectives, highlighting a critical truth: while climate and health challenges manifest differently across regions, solutions often share common threads. Country spotlights shared concrete examples of implementation successes, challenges and lessons learned. Representatives from high-, low- and middle-income countries demonstrated that the path from commitment to action is navigable through leadership, collaboration and innovative solutions.
An interactive session in the afternoon provided participants with an opportunity to share and discuss critical areas of climate and health action. The world cafe transformed the Health Pavilion into a dynamic marketplace of ideas. The moderated reflection that followed revealed key insights: the importance of local solutions, the need for further evidence and standardized metrics that account for equity, and the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing climate-health challenges.
The late afternoon sessions tackled two cross-cutting priorities essential to implementation: financing and equitable action. The equitable climate and health action panel brought voices from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to the forefront, with representatives sharing their unique challenges and solutions. Mr Abdul-Fatawu Salifu, ATACH Champion for Communities, Patients and Youth, reminded participants that community voices must be at the centre of all implementation efforts.
The day concluded with high-level closing remarks from the Bahamas’ Minister of Health, alongside representatives from, France and North Macedonia. The message was clear: while the challenges ahead are formidable, the pathways to solutions are being forged through initiatives like ATACH Day.
Looking ahead: the future of health at climate negotiations
As the fourth edition of ATACH Day at the Climate COP concluded, participants left with more than just inspiration. They carried with them concrete examples of implementation, new connections with peers facing similar challenges, and a clearer understanding of the support available through ATACH’s engagement mechanisms. For ATACH, the work continues: listening to what countries need to be able to translate climate and health commitments into action that protects health, builds resilience and ensures equitable outcomes for all, and addressing those needs.
