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Climate Change Exacerbates Health Inequities Among Migrant and Displaced Populations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As climate-related displacement affects millions worldwide, health systems are struggling to meet the demands of migrant and displaced populations. A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the critical need for health system strengthening interventions to address the evolving health needs of these populations. The report emphasizes that climate change is a risk multiplier, intensifying extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and disasters, which further strain health systems, particularly in low-resource settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Climate change has displaced over 20 million people in 2023 alone, and by 2050, over 216 million people could be forced to move within their countries due to climate-related impacts.
  • Health systems must be prepared to not only respond to emergencies but also address the long-term health needs of migrant and displaced populations.
  • Most health system interventions focus on service delivery, such as emergency medical care, water and sanitation, and mental health services, while long-term, anticipatory strategies are scarce.
  • Only six documented interventions included measures to mitigate climate change itself, highlighting the need for more proactive approaches.
  • Essential system components like health financing, data systems, and integration of displaced populations into national health plans are often overlooked, necessitating a shift towards more inclusive and resilient health systems.
  • The WHO report outlines key policy considerations to strengthen health systems, including:

+ Meaningful inclusion of migrant and displaced communities in health policy planning and service delivery

+ Bridging knowledge gaps through interdisciplinary and implementation-focused research

+ Proactive, long-term strategies to anticipate and address future health impacts of climate-related migration and displacement

+ A whole-of-route approach to embed essential functions into broader system strengthening efforts

+ Integrated public health functions to align migration, health, and climate agendas

Statistics:

  • 20 million people were internally displaced by sudden-onset weather events worldwide in 2023 (WHO).
  • By 2050, an estimated 216 million people could be forced to move within their countries due to climate-related impacts (WHO).
  • 95 health system interventions were documented across all WHO regions, highlighting the various responses to climate-related migration and displacement (WHO).
  • Only 6 interventions included measures to mitigate climate change itself, underscoring the need for more proactive approaches (WHO).
  • Health financing, data systems, and integration of displaced populations into national health plans are essential components often overlooked in health system interventions (WHO).

Sources:

  • "Health system strengthening interventions to improve the health of displaced and migrant populations in the context of climate change" (World Health Organization).
  • The seventh Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series (World Health Organization).
  • Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brasília (Government of Brazil, World Health Organization, and Pan American Health Organization).

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