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Zambia has called for increased international climate financing to strengthen health systems against climate-related shocks, warning that droughts, water stress and changing patterns of disease are placing growing pressure on public health, particularly in Africa.
The call was made on Monday during a Ministerial Dialogue on Advancing Global Health through Climate-Resilient Health Systems, convened by AMREF Africa on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
Speaking at the dialogue, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Dr Gilbert Siame, said climate change was no longer merely an environmental concern but an increasingly serious public health threat requiring urgent and coordinated action.
He said the growing frequency of severe droughts, water shortages and changing patterns of vector-borne diseases highlighted the need to build health systems capable of withstanding climate-related shocks.
Siame said robust primary healthcare should remained central to Zambia’s climate resilience efforts, while calling for stronger coordination among the ministries responsible for Health, Green Economy and Environment, and Finance.
“As part of this commitment, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), jointly convened a Climate and Health Dialogue in October 2026,” Siame said.
He said the participation of the Ministry of Finance provided an important platform for strengthening coordination and developing a common approach to addressing climate change impacts on health.
Siame said Zambia was working to integrate health adaptation into national development and climate planning frameworks, including National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
He said this would help ensure that climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, water-secure health facilities and climate-smart health services were adequately planned, funded and implemented.
Health had already been identified as one of the eight vulnerable sectors under Zambia’s National Adaptation Plan, while health-related indicators had been incorporated into the country’s third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), he said.
He added that preparations for the Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP) presented an opportunity to further integrate health adaptation into national development priorities, supported by appropriate financing and monitoring mechanisms.
On climate finance, Siame expressed concern that global funding remained disproportionately focused on mitigation, leaving adaptation, particularly in the health sector, inadequately financed.
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He called for a dedicated pipeline of investment-ready health adaptation projects that could attract international public financing, private sector investment and philanthropic support.
The minister urged international cooperating partners and multilateral development finance institutions to work with African governments, particularly ministries responsible for health, environment and finance, to develop and finance such projects.
He reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening institutional coordination, integrating health adaptation into national development planning and mobilising resources to protect vulnerable communities.
“Zambia is aligning its institution preparing its investment pipeline and creating the necessary conditions for integration. We therefore call upon our international partners to join us in mobilising the resources needed to strengthen health adaptation and protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change,” Siame said.
The dialogue provided an opportunity for Zambia to share its progress, strengthen partnerships and advocate for increased investment in climate-resilient health systems as part of Africa’s broader climate adaptation agenda.
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