Climate change is threatening progress towards control and elimination of infectious diseases by impacting their geographical range, seasonality, and incidence – as we are seeing with dengue in many countries. However, investments in measures such as disease surveillance and vector control, while important, will not suffice. Availability of and equitable access to tools to test and treat these diseases are vital to building resilient health systems.

Our experience in developing treatments for NTDs, many of which are also climate-sensitive, illustrates that, without concerted action, tools to tackle climate-sensitive infectious diseases will not be available for all – impacting the most vulnerable populations.

We welcome language in the resolution on calling for R&D for new health tools to prevent, test, and treat climate-sensitive infectious diseases and urge Member States to support its implementation in the proposed Global Plan of Action on climate change and health and WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work.