displacement and trauma. Health systems worldwide, already stretched, are struggling to absorb these cascading shocks. HARNESSING DATA TO SAVE LIVES Protecting human health and saving lives are central to the mission of the WMO. This year we commemorate 75 years as the United Nations agency for weather, water and climate. Throughout our existence we have provided science and data, and fostered early warning systems that empower government leaders and society to take informed action. In this fractured world, the role of trusted science and early warnings is more critical than ever. The WMO and the World Health Organization, through our Joint Climate and Health Programme, are working to bridge climate and health systems so that forecasts and warnings translate into lives saved. From the UN Early Warnings for All initiative, aiming to equip every country with effective early warning systems by 2027, to the Global Heat Health Information Network that connects practitioners across regions, our goal is clear: protect communities by transforming data into action. Recent advances show what is possible. Our joint programmes are expanding health-relevant climate services at the country level, supported by over 30 partners. New regional hubs are emerging in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Latin America to tackle the growing threat of extreme heat. Authoritative platforms such as ClimaHealth. info provide open access to tools and knowledge that support policymakers and practitioners alike. Bridging climate and health to heal a fractured world
From deadly heatwaves to rising disease threats, the climate crisis is a health crisis. Now more than ever, data, science and collaboration must drive urgent, integrated action
Abdulla Al Mandous, president, World Meteorological Organization, and director-general, National Center of Meteorology, United Arab Emirates A s our world fractures under the weight of climate shocks, pandemics, conflict and disinformation, health is on the front line. Climate change is not only disrupting weather patterns; it is reshaping the very foundations of human well-being. As president of the World Meteorological Organization and director-general of the National Center of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates, I see every day how the climate crisis is also a health crisis. Extreme weather events – heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, sand and dust storms – are no longer rare anomalies. They are the new reality. Their health toll is staggering: rising heat-related mortality, worsening air pollution that already causes 7 million premature deaths annually, surges in vector- and water-borne diseases, food insecurity affecting nearly 300 million people, and profound mental health impacts from
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Health: A Political Choice – The Future of Health in a Fractured World
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