An independent commission of eleven former health and climate ministers has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to formally declare the climate crisis a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC). This designation, akin to those for COVID-19 and Mpox, represents the highest level of health alert and aims to trigger a coordinated international response to the escalating threat. The commission argues that climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a fundamental health crisis, posing immediate and long-term dangers to human survival, security, and economic stability.
The commission's report highlights that climate change is "already killing us," citing rising death rates, increased climate-related anxiety, and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. A PHEIC designation would formally acknowledge this reality, potentially mobilizing resources, streamlining efforts, and prioritizing adaptation measures to prevent millions of future deaths.
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Experts Cite Direct Health Impacts and Disinformation
The report, set to be presented to European ministers before the WHO's World Health Assembly, details a litany of health consequences directly linked to climate change. These include:
Increased mortality and illness from excess heat, floods, and infectious diseases.
Adverse effects from air pollution, particularly from wildfires.
Higher rates of preterm births.
Worsening food insecurity.
A significant impact on mental health, driving anxiety and stress.
The commission also pointed to the role of fossil fuels, noting that they are directly responsible for an estimated 600,000 premature deaths annually in Europe alone. Consequently, the report urges governments to cease subsidizing these fuels. Beyond the direct health impacts, the commission called for measures to combat disinformation surrounding climate change and to implement national climate health impact assessments.
Europe's Warming and Vulnerable Populations
The urgency of the situation is underscored by regional data. Europe is warming at a faster rate than any other WHO region, with a third of the world's heat-related deaths occurring within the European Region. This warming trend exacerbates existing health vulnerabilities, with nearly half of humanity residing in areas highly susceptible to climate change impacts. The report emphasizes that the health consequences of climate change are not a distant threat but a present reality, disproportionately affecting those least able to cope.
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Background and Commission's Mandate
The push for this high-level declaration comes as the WHO itself acknowledges the escalating threat. In June 2025, WHO/Europe launched the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health (PECCH) to address the growing danger. The current independent commission, chaired by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, comprises individuals with extensive experience in health and climate policy. Their assertion that "the climate argument and the health argument are the same argument" underscores the interconnectedness of these issues and the perceived need for health leaders to take a more assertive role in climate discourse. The commission's findings frame climate change not just as an environmental concern but as a multifaceted crisis impacting security, health, and economic well-being simultaneously.
