By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified six climate and health interventions that could prevent approximately 1.6 million deaths annually if implemented globally, while generating trillions of dollars in economic and fiscal benefits.
The recommendations are contained in a new report titled Global Benefits and Costs of Prioritized Actions on Climate Change and Health, released on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, ahead of the United Nations COP31 climate conference in Türkiye.
According to the WHO, scaling up the six measures could generate an estimated $3.9 trillion in annual economic welfare benefits and an additional $5.4 trillion in fiscal gains.
The organisation said the interventions could also prevent approximately 16.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to 31 per cent of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, excluding emissions from land use and forestry.
The six recommended measures are:
- Heat-health warning systems: Establishing early warning systems to alert communities and healthcare services to extreme temperatures and heatwaves, helping prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths.
- Climate-resilient drinking-water services: Strengthening water infrastructure to ensure communities have reliable access to safe drinking water despite climate-related disruptions.
- Basic sanitation services: Expanding access to safe sanitation facilities to reduce exposure to diseases associated with inadequate waste management.
- Hygiene and handwashing facilities: Improving access to handwashing facilities and essential hygiene services to prevent infections and protect public health.
- Cleaner household energy: Promoting cleaner fuels and technologies for cooking and heating to reduce household air pollution and associated health risks.
- Efficient fossil fuel pricing policies: Reforming fossil fuel pricing, including removing inefficient subsidies and introducing appropriate taxation, to discourage harmful consumption and generate resources for public investment.
The WHO estimated that every US$1 invested across five of the interventions could generate approximately US$24 in benefits.
Heat-health warning systems recorded particularly high projected returns, with every US$1 invested potentially generating US$835 in benefits, according to the report.
Fossil fuel pricing reforms were identified as the measure with the largest projected overall gains. The WHO estimated that such policies could prevent 1.2 million deaths annually, while generating approximately US$3 trillion in economic welfare benefits and US$5.4 trillion in fiscal benefits.
The organisation said the benefits of implementing the measures could be particularly significant in low- and middle-income countries, where climate-related health risks and inadequate access to essential services often place greater pressure on vulnerable communities.
The findings are also relevant to Nigeria, where access to clean cooking energy, safe drinking water and adequate sanitation remains a development challenge. TheDailyNewsHub previously reported on a United Nations assessment showing that 113 million Nigerians face overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards, highlighting gaps in essential services that affect household wellbeing.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the climate crisis was also a health crisis, stressing that much of the resulting harm could be prevented through existing interventions.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis, but much of the harm it causes can be prevented with tools we already have,” he said.
He called on governments, development partners and financing institutions to increase investment in proven climate and health measures, particularly in countries where the potential benefits are greatest.
The WHO acknowledged that its estimates were based on modelled projections and ambitious global implementation scenarios. The report also identified data gaps and uncertainties associated with long-term projections, meaning the projected benefits would depend on the scale and effectiveness of implementation.
The publication comes ahead of COP31, where governments are expected to discuss climate commitments and strategies for addressing the consequences of global warming.
The WHO said protecting public health should be central to climate policies, arguing that investments in climate resilience can deliver benefits beyond emissions reduction, including fewer deaths, stronger economies and improved living conditions.