Policy briefs

Climate change is placing growing pressure on healthcare systems through increasing heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and other climate-related hazards. These events can disrupt healthcare delivery, damage infrastructure, strain workforces, and undermine societal resilience.

This policy brief examines how climate extremes affect health systems and argues that resilience must be built across prevention, emergency response, and recovery. It highlights the importance of workforce capacity, supply chain resilience, healthcare infrastructure, and preparedness planning.

The brief recommends implementing an operational risk-intelligence cycle based on impact forecasting and climate impact storylines, supported by preparedness training, interoperable data systems, resilient supply chains, and rapid recovery pathways to strengthen healthcare resilience in a changing climate.