Climate and health advocates are warning that climate change has become a major public health emergency. Speaking at a Cross-Border Café, advocate Harry Simuntala said communities with limited access to healthcare, clean water, and strong infrastructure are being hit hardest by climate-driven disasters.
Simuntala noted a rise in malaria, cholera, heat-related illnesses, and disruptions in maternal and child health services. He urged global leaders to turn climate pledges into concrete action that protects vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, Mudenda Mweeta from Zambia Apex University highlighted key commitments from COP 30 in Belém. These include providing clean cooking solutions to 140 million people annually, reframing urban transport as a life-saving intervention, and strengthening ecosystem resilience through wildlife management and freshwater restoration.
Experts say these actions are essential to safeguarding public health as climate threats continue to grow.
