WHO Launches Global Health Research Plan on Climate Impact

The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Global Research Prioritisation Exercise (GRPE) action plan focused on health, migration, and displacement, aiming to strengthen evidence and guide policies regarding the effects of climate change on human mobility and health. The inauguration involved over 300 participants from more than 75 countries, addressing a significant but under-researched health challenge.

Dr. Santino Severoni, Head of WHO Health and Migration, stated that the GRPE is the first thematic initiative under WHO’s Global Research Agenda on Health, Migration and Displacement. It identifies priority research areas, including social determinants of health, universal health coverage, and health outcomes.

Key areas of focus include tackling social inequities, improving access to health services, and enhancing migration-sensitive data systems. Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head of WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration across sectors.

WHO reaffirmed its commitment to helping Member States implement the roadmap to build resilient, migrant-inclusive health systems.