Climate change is a global crisis with profound and far-reaching impacts on human well-being and the environment. It presents one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time with disproportionate impacts that are increasingly evident across the African continent. Globally, Climate change is projected to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths, over 2 billion healthy life years lost and $12.5 trillion in economic losses by 2050. In Africa, a review of the over 2,000 public health events between 2001 and 2021 indicates that 56% are linked to climate change. Extreme weather events, shifting disease patterns, food insecurity, and waterborne illnesses are intensifying, posing significant risks to the health and well-being of communities. It is against this backdrop that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has developed the Strategic Framework for Climate Change and Health, a comprehensive roadmap designed to address the intersection of climate and health through coordinated, evidence-based actions.

This framework represents a pivotal step in the Africa CDC’s mission to safeguard public health by fostering a unified approach across the continent for building climate- resilient health systems and communities. It emphasizes the critical need for robust institutional arrangements, drawing on Africa CDC’s existing structures at the continental, regional, and national levels. By adopting a comprehensive approach that integrates a holistic measures, the inclusive framework ensures that every level of society, from policymakers to community members, is equipped to respond to climate-related health challenges.