Health leaders warn climate crisis threatens global medical supply chains

Global health leaders issued a warning during the ongoing World Health Assembly that climate change is increasingly threatening health supply chains, endangering access to medicines and healthcare services worldwide. The alert came alongside the release of a report called *Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Health Care Supply Chains*, which proposes strategies for governments and healthcare systems to fortify supply chains, cut carbon emissions, and mitigate climate-related disruptions. The high-level meeting, titled *Lifelines at Risk: Making Health Supply Chains Climate-Resilient*, was organized by Health Care Without Harm, Unitaid, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Participants included officials from the WHO and health authorities from multiple countries. Experts noted that decades of centralized manufacturing to cut costs have left health systems vulnerable, as essential medicines are often produced far from where they are needed. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, emphasized that climate shocks—such as heat, extreme weather, and systemic risks—are straining global health systems. Vincent Bretin, Director of Results and Climate at Unitaid, highlighted that healthcare supply chains contribute over 70% of the health sector’s environmental footprint, with over 80% of emissions stemming from fossil fuel combustion, according to Josh Karliner of Health Care Without Harm. Community representatives warned that climate disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, such as those with chronic illnesses, by disrupting medicine supplies. Brazilian officials cited recent floods in Rio Grande do Sul as a case study of how climate disasters can disrupt medicine access, logistics, and healthcare continuity. The discussions are set to inform upcoming COP31 negotiations, where health supply chains are expected to be a key focus in global climate and health talks.