Highlighting climate change as an amplifier of diseases in the UAE
Categories: Climate change & health Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessments, Health National Adaptation Plans, Eastern Mediterranean, Climate resilient health systems
Publisher: World Health Organization
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) highlighted climate change as an amplifier of communicable and noncommunicable diseases through two presentations at national conferences, emphasizing the importance of integrating climate adaptation into disease prevention and public health planning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The contributions were presented at the First UAE National Congress on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), held on 22–23 September 2026, and the 10th Annual Infectious Disease Week in Abu Dhabi, held on 2–3 October 2026. Together, they underscored the need to address climate and health through coordinated approaches that connect prevention, preparedness and health system resilience.
The first presentation, “Climate Change as an NCD Amplifier: Integrating Planetary Health into National NCD Strategies,” explored how climate change can intensify risks associated with NCDs. It emphasized the relevance of planetary health to national NCD strategies, bringing environmental considerations into efforts to protect people living with chronic conditions and reduce preventable illness.
The second presentation, “One Health & Climate Change Impact on Infectious Diseases,” focused on the connections between climate, ecosystems and infectious disease risks. It highlighted the value of a One Health approach, recognizing the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health and the importance of collaboration across sectors.
Across both presentations, the central message was that adapting to climate change is essential for disease prevention. Linking health planning with climate and environmental information can help inform preparedness, guide prevention measures and support timely responses to changing health risks.
For the UAE, these contributions reinforce the importance of considering climate change across both communicable and noncommunicable disease programs. They also provide a shared perspective for health professionals and partners: climate adaptation should be part of everyday public health action.
By bringing planetary health and One Health into these discussions, MOHAP emphasized an integrated approach to protecting population health in a rapidly changing climate.