Climate Change Is Now A Health Emergency - At COP31, Zambia Warns

by Pauline Ngozoh

Zambia has told world leaders that climate change can no longer be treated as an environmental issue alone - it is fast becoming a major public health emergency, especially for Africa.

Speaking at a high-level Ministerial Dialogue on climate-resilient health systems hosted by AMREF Africa on the sidelines of COP31, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Dr. Gilbert Siame, said worsening droughts, water shortages and the shifting spread of vector-borne diseases are already straining health systems.

Dr. Siame said strong primary healthcare must sit at the heart of Zambia's climate response, and called for closer joint planning between the Ministries of Health, Green Economy and Environment, and Finance instead of each working in isolation.

He pointed to the joint Climate and Health Dialogue held in October 2026 by the