This article was originally published by the World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asia’s Regional Technical Meeting on Climate Change and Health will be hosted in Timor-Leste from 25–28 February 2025. This high-level gathering will bring together delegates from 10 WHO Southeast Asia Member States, experts from WHO Headquarters, other WHO regional offices, and representatives from donor agencies and collaborative partners.

The meeting will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday, 25^th February, in Dili Timor-Leste.

Climate change is one of the most pressing threats to global public health, exacerbating existing inequalities and vulnerabilities. The health sector itself contributes nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, climate-resilient health systems.

“The impact of climate change on health is undeniable. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing disease patterns are already affecting millions. Strengthening climate-resilient health systems is no longer an option but an imperative,” said Dr. Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste.

The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) is a WHO-led initiative that serves as a voluntary global platform for countries and stakeholders to share knowledge, enhance technical cooperation, and accelerate action on climate-resilient and sustainable health systems, while supporting, defining and advocating for health-promoting action by other sectors ( eg, food, agriculture, energy) The initiative was launched in response to the commitments made at COP26 to integrate climate and health priorities into national, regional, and global policies. ATACH membership is comprised of countries/areas (represented by the Ministry of Health), governmental technical agencies, multilaterals & UN organizations, global-climate health financing mechanisms, and non-state actors

As a Small Island Developing State, Timor-Leste is particularly vulnerable the impacts of climate change. More frequent and severe extreme weather events and conditions such as, rising sea levels and saline intrusion affects our local communities and is taking a rising toll on people’s well-being and livelihoods and physical and mental health. It also threatens health systems and health facilities underscoring the need for rapidly scaled up adaptation actions. Changes in weather are threatening biodiversity, ecosystems, food security, nutrition, air quality and safe and sufficient access to water and ultimately driving up food, water and vector borne diseases. These impacts get exacerbated in vulnerable populations and marginalized communities

“The climate crisis is hitting where it hurts the most—health and nutrition. Malnutrition and disease, fueled by climate change, create a deadly cycle. Sick individuals struggle to stay nourished, and the malnourished face higher risks of illness,” added Dr. Mathur.

The Regional Technical Meeting will serve as a critical platform for knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and fostering regional collaboration. Participants will discuss strategies to access international climate funds and implement adaptation and mitigation measures within the health sector and will also contribute to health action agenda of the upcoming COP30.

In addition, the meeting will feature an advocacy and knowledge-exchange platform, where participating countries will showcase their achievements and innovative approaches in addressing climate change and health challenges.

“This is the first high-level technical meeting on climate change and health to be hosted in Timor-Leste. It provides a significant opportunity for the Government and the Ministry of Health to highlight their efforts and reaffirm their commitment to tackling climate-related health challenges on the WHO regional platform,” Dr. Mathur emphasized.