As global health leaders, we are committed to achieving health and well-being for all – this is not possible without a safe and stable climate. The Paris Agreement enshrined the “right to health” as a core obligation for climate action. However, communities, health workers and health systems around the world are already facing the alarming impacts of a changing climate. Extreme weather events caused by climate change are becoming more frequent and severe – many countries are struggling with the health consequences of extreme heat, unprecedented storms, flooding, food and water shortages, wildfires and displacement. For COP28 to truly be a “health COP”, it must address the root cause of the climate crisis: the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and gas.

We call on the COP28 presidency and leaders of all countries to commit to an accelerated, fair and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as a critical path to health for all. .