Enviro News Asia, Geneva — The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global research prioritization and action plan focused on the links between climate change, health, migration and displacement, aiming to address critical evidence gaps and strengthen equitable, climate-resilient health systems.
The initiative was launched during a virtual webinar on July 22, bringing together more than 300 participants from over 75 countries. It was developed by WHO Health and Migration in collaboration with WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality.
WHO said climate change is increasingly influencing the drivers of migration and displacement while creating additional health risks and barriers to healthcare access. These impacts are particularly significant for populations already facing social and economic vulnerabilities and limited capacity to adapt.
The Global Research Prioritization Exercise (GRPE), the first thematic exercise under WHO’s Global research agenda on health, migration and displacement, was designed to identify priority areas for policy-relevant research. The process included a scoping review, stakeholder mapping, technical consultations and an online prioritization survey involving 59 experts from academia, policy and practice.
The exercise identified research priorities across three core themes: social determinants of health, universal health coverage and emergencies. Two cross-cutting areas—health outcomes and data, policy and interventions—were also identified.
Key priorities include addressing social inequalities and vulnerabilities, improving access to healthcare services, strengthening preparedness for climate-related emergencies, and developing migration-sensitive data systems.
WHO also highlighted the need for further research into mental health, maternal and child health, chronic diseases and the long-term health effects of climate-related migration and displacement.
Dr Santino Severoni, Head of WHO Health and Migration, said closing research gaps is essential to advancing health equity and universal health coverage, emphasizing that migrants and displaced populations should be included in health planning from the outset.
Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head of WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality, said stronger evidence is needed to guide effective policies and protect populations increasingly affected by climate-related changes in health and mobility.
The roadmap calls for stronger collaboration across the climate, health and migration sectors, improved data systems, community-centred research and closer links between research, policymaking and implementation.
Through the initiative, WHO aims to support Member States and partners in translating research priorities into practical policies and interventions while strengthening resilient and migrant-inclusive health systems in response to a changing climate. (*)
