The nexus between climate change and health has been a growing focus at recent international climate conferences (COP16, COP28), urging governments, cities, and health systems to prioritize climate-resilient healthcare and sustainable urban planning. Home to over 2.4 billion urban residents, the Asia-Pacific region is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Rapid urbanization, air pollution, and unplanned settlements increase respiratory diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and the spread of infectious diseases. Climate-induced events threaten food security and displace vulnerable communities, while rising temperatures exacerbate heat stress and waterborne diseases. Better integrating urban health strategies with climate action is essential for ensuring climate resilient urban development with positive and inclusive health outcomes.

The Asia-Pacific Urban Health and Climate Resilience Programme will align the urban health and climate resilience agendas to address regional challenges in an integrated manner. ​ ​It will build on existing global platforms like SURGe and CHAMP for enhanced multi-level action, while also exploring new programmatic entry points that place health at the center of climate action.