Rachel V Thomas

Health and Me

COP31: ‘You’re Negotiating People’s Health, Not Just Carbon Emissions,’ Says Lancet Countdown Chief | Exclusive

Policymakers attending the 31st Conference of the Parties (<span>COP31</span>) in Türkiye must put health at the centre of every climate negotiation, Professor <span>Marina Romanello</span>, Executive Director of the <span>Lancet Countdown</span>, told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong> in an exclusive interview.

Marina, who led the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/big-lancet-report-heat-related-deaths-rise-36-since-paris-climate-agreement-global-warming-blamed-article-156450681" data-type="tilCustomLink">2026 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report</a> released ahead of COP31, outlined the growing health consequences of global warming and the urgent need for stronger climate action.

Drawing on findings from the report, Marina warned that climate inaction is putting lives, livelihoods and public health at risk.

The report noted that climate commitments made since the <span>Paris Agreement</span> have delivered measurable health benefits, but progress remains too slow and uneven.

“One of the things that we are calling for negotiators to realise is that when they go to COP, they're not just negotiating budgets or carbon emissions or degrees of heating. What they're negotiating is people's health,” Marina told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>.

“They're negotiating how many people die from climate change. They're negotiating how many of our children will grow in these dangerous environments and have less of a chance in life.”

She stressed the need to recognise that climate change is not just an environmental issue.

“It's important to be very clear that climate change is not just a problem of the inanimate world or even of nature and polar bears. It's a problem of people here and today, and that our failure to act is costing people's lives, livelihood and health.”

<h2>Health Must Be Included Across All COP Negotiations</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/climate-change-is-already-harming-health-who-chief-pushes-antalya-initiative-at-cop31-article-156485685" data-type="tilCustomLink">Climate Change Is Already Harming Health: WHO Chief Pushes Antalya Initiative At COP31</a>

Marina, who is also a researcher at University College London's Institute for Global Health, urged policymakers to integrate health into all COP31 discussions rather than confining it to side events.

“We're also calling for countries not just to have climate change as one of the action agenda items and side events, but to actually consider climate change throughout their whole negotiations. Every negotiation stream needs to have health considerations so that we are aware of the hazards and the dangers that we're dealing with here.”

<h2>Countries Must Go Beyond COP Commitments</h2>

<strong>Read More</strong>: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/cop31-begins-on-health-day-how-will-countries-measure-the-health-impact-of-climate-change-article-156484020" data-type="tilCustomLink">COP31 Begins On Health Day: How Will Countries Measure The Health Impact Of Climate Change?</a>

Marina described COP as “a baseline” and “a starting point”, stressing that countries could go much further than the commitments agreed at the conference.

She cited India as an example of a country that stands to gain significantly from accelerating its climate transition, pointing to its natural resources, technological capabilities and opportunities to improve public health.

“In a country like India, where you have so many natural resources, where you have such impressive technology development, where you have so many opportunities from healthier air, improving access to energy, improving the transition towards more resilient, sustainable food systems, you are standing to win so massively from an accelerated transition at a country level.”

Marina also pointed out that countries rarely account for the health implications of their mitigation and adaptation plans. These include both potential negative impacts and the significant health benefits that stronger climate action could deliver.

Taking these benefits into account, she told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>, that it could increase the overall return on investment and make climate action more cost-effective.

<h2>Three Policy Interventions Governments Must Prioritise</h2>

<strong>READ</strong>: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/climate-crisis-is-a-health-crisis-just-6-actions-could-save-1-6-million-lives-says-who-article-156464380" data-type="tilCustomLink">Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis: Just 6 Actions Could Save 1.6 Million Lives, Says WHO</a>

Marina outlined three key areas for government action at COP31:

<strong>1. Phase Out Fossil Fuels</strong>

Governments must prioritise phasing out fossil fuel use, particularly in urban centres where people live, she said.

“That will reduce the burden of air pollution and will mean that people have much less burden of chronic conditions and much less exacerbation of those conditions that they already have.”

Marina called for health systems to be equipped to respond to climate hazards and for healthcare professionals to receive training on <span>climate change and health</span>.

“They should know how to recommend better care and better preventative measures to their patients.”

Marina stressed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions must remain a priority for every country.

“We absolutely need to stop our emissions, our greenhouse gas emissions. Every country needs to pursue efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It's a global health imperative.”

She added: “Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, redoubling efforts to mitigate climate change is a health imperative.”

Health Conditions A-Z

health

cop31-youre-negotiating-peoples-health-not-just-carbon-emissions-says-lancet-countdown-chief-exclusive

COP31

marina romanello

Lancet Countdown

climate change and health impact

human health

Paris Agreement

climate health action

climate change and health

climate negotiations

28-year-old-us-man-sees-cats-features-on-human-faces-after-brain-surgery-what-is-prosopometamorphopsia

28-Year-Old US Man Sees Cat’s Features On Human Faces After Brain Surgery: What Is Prosopometamorphopsia?

semaglutide-may-lower-fetal-oxygen-levels-during-pregnancy-sheep-study-finds

Semaglutide May Lower Fetal Oxygen Levels During Pregnancy, Sheep Study Finds

Health News

8 Sit-Up Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Build Stability

Benefits Of Ayurvedic Health Supplement Ashwagandha

9 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Options You Should Try

5 Foods You Should Avoid For PCOS, Says Gynecologist

Love Sitting With Your Legs Crossed? Here’s You Should Avoid It

6 Daily Foods That Are Secretly Increasing Your Calories

9 Brain Boosters You Should Do Everyday

Hip Exercises That Will Keep You Flexible As You Age

9 Leg Exercises Office Workers’ Should Do At Home

Benefits of Having Herbal Tea Every Morning

9 Daily Habits That Boost Your Brain Power

Lower-Body Exercises That Are Game-Changers

How Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You

Aging Myths You Should Never Believe

Superfoods That Support Your Gut Health

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles Every Day?

Health Issues Premature Babies Often Face

Exercises Office Workers Should Do For Their Heart Health

Reasons Why You Should Add Raw Turmeric To Your Diet

Benefits Of Drinking Milk At Night: Why You Should Do It

Food That Provides Vitamin B12 Naturally In Your Diet

Surprising Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds

9 Superfoods You Should Eat For Your Brain Health

What Does Mental Health Support Look Like At Work?

Long Stretches You Should Do To Unwind From Your Day

Colon Cancer In Young Adults: Early Symptoms You Should Know

Health Benefits Of Eating Dry Fruits Everyday

Are You At Risk For Fried Rice Syndrome?

These Tests Reveal How Well You Are Aging

Lower-Back Exercises You Should Do After A Long-Day's Work

Children’s Diet – What Kids Need To Eat For Immunity Building

Common Diabetes Myths That Could Hurt Your Health

Love Spicy Food? Here’s How It Affects Your Health

Superfood List: Veggies And Fruits You Must Have For Immunity

Foods People With IBS Should Avoid

Exercises To Improve Digestion

Easy Work Lunches You Can Make In The Morning

Hunger Vs Craving: Difference Explained In 60 seconds

These Things Can Cause Your Heart To Age Faster

High Carb Foods That Are Actually Healthy

Policymakers attending the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Türkiye must put health at the centre of every climate negotiation, Professor Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, told HealthandMe in an exclusive interview.Marina, who led the 2026 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report released ahead of COP31, outlined the growing health consequences of global warming and the urgent need for stronger climate action.Drawing on findings from the report, Marina warned that climate inaction is putting lives, livelihoods and public health at risk.The report noted that climate commitments made since the Paris Agreement have delivered measurable health benefits, but progress remains too slow and uneven.“One of the things that we are calling for negotiators to realise is that when they go to COP, they're not just negotiating budgets or carbon emissions or degrees of heating. What they're negotiating is people's health,” Marina told HealthandMe.“They're negotiating how many people die from climate change. They're negotiating how many of our children will grow in these dangerous environments and have less of a chance in life.”She stressed the need to recognise that climate change is not just an environmental issue.“It's important to be very clear that climate change is not just a problem of the inanimate world or even of nature and polar bears. It's a problem of people here and today, and that our failure to act is costing people's lives, livelihood and health.”Health Must Be Included Across All COP NegotiationsAlso read: Climate Change Is Already Harming Health: WHO Chief Pushes Antalya Initiative At COP31Marina, who is also a researcher at University College London's Institute for Global Health, urged policymakers to integrate health into all COP31 discussions rather than confining it to side events.“We're also calling for countries not just to have climate change as one of the action agenda items and side events, but to actually consider climate change throughout their whole negotiations. Every negotiation stream needs to have health considerations so that we are aware of the hazards and the dangers that we're dealing with here.”Countries Must Go Beyond COP CommitmentsRead More: COP31 Begins On Health Day: How Will Countries Measure The Health Impact Of Climate Change?Marina described COP as “a baseline” and “a starting point”, stressing that countries could go much further than the commitments agreed at the conference.She cited India as an example of a country that stands to gain significantly from accelerating its climate transition, pointing to its natural resources, technological capabilities and opportunities to improve public health.“In a country like India, where you have so many natural resources, where you have such impressive technology development, where you have so many opportunities from healthier air, improving access to energy, improving the transition towards more resilient, sustainable food systems, you are standing to win so massively from an accelerated transition at a country level.”Marina also pointed out that countries rarely account for the health implications of their mitigation and adaptation plans. These include both potential negative impacts and the significant health benefits that stronger climate action could deliver.Taking these benefits into account, she told HealthandMe, that it could increase the overall return on investment and make climate action more cost-effective.Three Policy Interventions Governments Must PrioritiseREAD: Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis: Just 6 Actions Could Save 1.6 Million Lives, Says WHOMarina outlined three key areas for government action at COP31:1. Phase Out Fossil FuelsGovernments must prioritise phasing out fossil fuel use, particularly in urban centres where people live, she said.“That will reduce the burden of air pollution and will mean that people have much less burden of chronic conditions and much less exacerbation of those conditions that they already have.”2. Strengthen Healthcare SystemsMarina called for health systems to be equipped to respond to climate hazards and for healthcare professionals to receive training on climate change and health.“They should know how to recommend better care and better preventative measures to their patients.”3. Accelerate Emissions ReductionsMarina stressed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions must remain a priority for every country.“We absolutely need to stop our emissions, our greenhouse gas emissions. Every country needs to pursue efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It's a global health imperative.”She added: “Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, redoubling efforts to mitigate climate change is a health imperative.”

cop31 exclusive interview: ‘you’re negotiating people’s health, not just carbon emissions,’ says lancet countdown chief professor marina romanello |

About Us

Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Company

Health and Me is a premium website with content written and curated to function as a handbook for all Health concerns.

COP31: ‘You’re Negotiating People’s Health, Not Just Carbon Emissions,’ Says Lancet Countdown Chief | Exclusive

Semaglutide May Lower Fetal Oxygen Levels During Pregnancy, Sheep Study Finds

US Flu Cases Rising: What To Know About The New G155E H1N1 Mutation

After California, Alaska Reports 3 Clade I Mpox Cases In People With No Travel History

Health Conditions A-Z

COP31: ‘You’re Negotiating People’s Health, Not Just Carbon Emissions,’ Says Lancet Countdown Chief | Exclusive

28-Year-Old US Man Sees Cat’s Features On Human Faces After Brain Surgery: What Is Prosopometamorphopsia?

Semaglutide May Lower Fetal Oxygen Levels During Pregnancy, Sheep Study Finds