The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and three United Nations agencies — WHO, UNDP, and UNICEF — held a consultation workshop in Ha Noi to strengthen the integration of health into Viet Nam’s national climate change response. The event supports the preparation of Viet Nam’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) report ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil in November 2025. Bringing together representatives from government, development partners, and academia, the workshop aimed to identify priority actions to ensure that health becomes a central focus of climate policy.
Positioning health at the heart of Viet Nam’s climate response is critical for saving lives, building resilient health systems, and maximizing the co-benefits of climate action. The approach reflects Viet Nam’s commitments made at COP26 to develop climate-resilient health systems and its role as a steering committee member of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) in the Western Pacific Region. Efforts to reduce air pollution in major cities also align with broader goals for a healthier population and sustainable development.
The impacts of climate change are already straining Viet Nam’s health system, contributing to more frequent disease outbreaks, extreme weather events, and threats to clean water. By 2050, healthcare costs could rise by USD 1–3 billion, with productivity losses reaching up to USD 23 billion. With 70 percent of the population living in vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas, the risks are significant, underscoring the urgency of integrating health into climate action.
At the workshop, WHO’s Representative in Viet Nam, Dr. Angela Pratt, highlighted the country’s growing leadership in global and regional climate-health initiatives, noting that strong national climate goals can bring both health and economic benefits. UNDP’s Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi stressed that ambitious, health-centered climate policies can strengthen resilience, unlock financing, and improve outcomes for people and the planet. UNICEF Representative Silvia Danailov emphasized the importance of child- and youth-focused approaches, ensuring that vulnerable communities remain at the center of Viet Nam’s climate strategy.
The consultation marks an important step in aligning Viet Nam’s Paris Agreement commitments with public health priorities. With continued support from WHO, UNDP, and UNICEF, Viet Nam is working to ensure that its climate policies protect health, strengthen resilience, and leave no one behind.
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