8 top organizations are combating climate change's health impacts. Here’s how — in their own words

The climate crisis is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. Climate-driven health effects are set to impact our social and economic systems deeply. Already, we are seeing heatwaves, vector-borne diseases and extreme weather events leading to dangerous working conditions, disrupted supply chains, increasing healthcare costs and a stark human toll.

In response, the World Economic Forum collaborates with organizations at the forefront of addressing the intersection of climate and health. These organizations are embracing their responsibility to safeguard human health and integrating solutions into their operations. In doing so they are inspiring others to take action.

Here are just a few of those partners, and the work they are doing — in their words.

Kaiser Permanente collaborates across industries by putting the health of our members and communities at the centre of climate action. We focus on developing partnerships across sectors—from healthcare and government to technology and academia. Our interventions reduce the health harms of climate events: working locally to distribute air conditioners during heat waves, supporting our members, and aiming to incorporate heat-risk tools to our processes.

We work with industry to inform the future of climate action. Our partnership with BSR brings together leaders to develop and implement a joint climate action plan, and our partnership with National Academy of Medicine is expanding the evidence base for solutions climate-related health impacts and informing future climate research, strategies and policies.

We’re not only addressing the immediate health impacts of climate change, but also advancing long-term solutions for healthier communities. Through participation in global forums and cross-sector initiatives, we shape policy, drive innovation and accelerate progress.

Nine in 10 of us worldwide are breathing air that is harming our health — but the fight for clean air is hampered by inequality of awareness and information. Critical gaps in air quality data exist, with one third of countries lacking the capability to monitor levels of harmful particulate pollution.

The Clean Air Fund partners with other funders, governments, NGOs and industry to drive action for clean air. Examples like Urban Better’s Cityzens for Clean Air campaign show how citizens can help by using technologies to map and identify sources of pollution and communicate them to authorities. Businesses are getting involved through coalitions like the Alliance for Clean Air in which multinationals are measuring their air pollution footprint and implementing plans to reduce it.

Global cooperation needs to improve. We supported the launch of a global platform for air quality management guidance, and called for shared methods of estimating air pollution levels and global targets for PM2.5 reductions. Collaborations like this will mean no one is left behind in the shift to clean air.

The health impacts of climate change are a public health crisis. Collective action is crucial. This foundational belief is why we launched our Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health and Equity, focusing on bringing together all health-sector industries: hospitals and health care systems, supply chains, pharmaceuticals, device manufacturers and more.

The Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the Health Sector, which brought together 130 health leaders from over 70 organizations, has opened up to all organizations interested in progressing in the climate and health field through our Initiative to Accelerate the National Climate and Health Movement.

All organizations are welcome to join us. Similar collaborations can be found throughout our Grand Challenge, such as our Climate Communities Network and Roadmap for Systems Transformation programmes. The Roadmap looks beyond the health sector to examine how non-health sectors with disproportionate impacts on climate change can engage achieve net zero and protect health and well-being.

AGRA collaborates across sectors, from strengthening seed value chains to working with governments to enhance agricultural transformation. Our partnerships extend beyond food to engage youth, financial institutions and tech innovators to build resilient, inclusive food systems.

Growing more food is not enough: this food produced must meet the nutritional needs of Africa's growing population. That’s why we’ve launched targeted programmes to provide biofortified foods to 1.2 million schoolchildren across three countries. By working with nutrition experts, agricultural researchers and policymakers, AGRA is improving nutritional outcomes for farmers and consumers.

Strengthening policy and state capability is another cornerstone of our approach. Through collaboration, we are enabling a more inclusive and sustainable transformation to improve access to nutrition, poverty reduction and stronger healthcare systems. In work with African Union, we have steered policy towards the "One Health" model, emphasizing healthy soils and plants as the foundation of public health.

AGRA’s mission is to ensure that the continent's 33 million smallholder farmers shift from subsistence farming to thriving, profitable businesses.

Extreme weather events and climate-driven migration further stress health systems already struggling to meet the challenge of neglected tropical diseases affecting 600 million people in Africa. Without large-scale collaborative responses to climate change, we are putting the wellbeing and productivity of an entire continent at risk.

The END Fund is facilitating one of the largest public-private-philanthropic partnerships in global health. By pooling philanthropic capital with drug donations in support of national and community health programmes, we are able to treat hundreds of millions of people annually, advancing disease elimination, improving school attendance and boosting economic productivity. Seeking an equitable policy agenda and urgent global climate response, we support the leadership of communities whose health is most at risk by climate change yet contribute least to its causes.

Our increasingly destabilized Earth system has become an imminent threat to human health, with record-breaking temperatures, floods and famines becoming commonplace. Planetary Health is focused on the global health implications of this crisis, including disruptions to biodiversity, pollution and changes in land use.

Safeguarding human health and reversing our degradation of Earth's natural systems demands urgent global collaboration and a shared commitment to deep structural changes in how we live. With over 450 member organizations in over 75 countries, the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) serves as the global backbone organization for Planetary Health’s growing community.

The PHA is breaking silos and fostering partnerships across health, private sector, multilateral organizations and civil society by facilitating dialogue and action through annual meetings, regional hubs and working groups. Our global network developed the Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan, which achieves cross-sector conversations around transformative governance, business engagement, and education in their roles to shift toward a regenerative future.

Air pollution is responsible for 7 million premature deaths annually, making it one of the largest environmental health risks worldwide.

At IKEA, our priority is to contribute to a world of clean air. We are committed to reducing air pollutants across our whole value chain and enabling people to purify the air in their homes. We collaborate with our supplier partners, service providers and franchisees across our value chain to secure climate action plans that prioritize both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.

IKEA, in partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition developed the first-ever guide to measure air pollution across value chains, launched at COP27. By encouraging more companies to report on air pollution and integrate air quality into their transition plans, we aim to accelerate action to benefit both climate and public health.

The healthcare sector contributes 4.4% of global carbon emissions, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable practices. Burjeel Holdings recognizes this — and is acting upon this challenge.

We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, with specific targets such as zero waste to landfills by 2040, reducing water consumption by 10% by 2030 and reusing 5% of total water annually.

Burjeel is also a proud member of the Global Health Equity Network (GHEN), committed to promoting positive social impact and advancing the collective goal of Zero Health Gaps. Through partnerships, we foster equitable access to healthcare and improve communities’ well-being worldwide. Locally, we work closely with public sector entities to strengthen these efforts and drive change in healthcare.

Burjeel also offers climate-related counseling and screening services, ensuring patients receive holistic care considering climate-sensitive health risks like heat and pollution.