Key points
- WHO has launched a global research prioritisation and action plan on health, migration and displacement.
- The initiative seeks to close evidence gaps on the health impacts of climate-related migration.
- More than 300 participants from over 75 countries contributed to developing the research roadmap.
Main story
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a Global Research Prioritisation Exercise (GRPE) and action roadmap aimed at strengthening evidence on the links between climate change, migration, displacement and health.
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday by WHO Health and Migration in collaboration with WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality, brought together more than 300 participants from over 75 countries to address one of the world’s most under-researched public health challenges.
According to WHO, significant evidence gaps remain on how climate-related migration affects health, well-being and access to healthcare, despite increasing recognition of the relationship between climate change, human mobility and health outcomes.
The organisation said climate change is contributing to migration and displacement, particularly among vulnerable populations with limited capacity to adapt, while also influencing health risks and access to essential services throughout the migration journey.
WHO said the research exercise followed a structured process that included a scoping review, stakeholder mapping, technical consultations and an online prioritisation survey involving 59 experts from academia, policy and practice.
The exercise identified priority research areas under three core themes—social determinants of health, universal health coverage and emergencies—alongside cross-cutting issues covering health outcomes, data, policy and interventions.
Key research priorities include addressing social inequalities, strengthening access to health services, improving preparedness for climate-related emergencies, enhancing migration-sensitive data systems, and generating evidence on mental health, maternal and child health, chronic diseases and the long-term health effects of climate-related mobility.
WHO said the roadmap would guide future research, policy development and practical interventions while supporting the development of climate-resilient and migrant-inclusive health systems.
The issues
Climate change is increasingly driving migration and displacement, but research on its health implications remains limited. Closing these evidence gaps is expected to help governments develop policies that improve healthcare access and strengthen resilience among migrant and displaced populations.
What’s being said
“Closing research gaps is a matter of equity. To achieve universal health coverage, strengthening climate resilience and advancing health equity, migrant and displaced populations must not be an afterthought; they must be part of the solution from the beginning.” — Dr Santino Severoni, Head of WHO Health and Migration.
“Climate change is already affecting the health and mobility of populations around the world. Strengthening the evidence base is essential to inform effective policies and ensure that those most affected are protected through climate-resilient and equitable health systems.” — Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head of WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality.
What’s next
WHO plans to work with member states and partners to embed the research roadmap into regional and national health agendas, strengthen partnerships, build research capacity and promote evidence-based policies for migrant and displaced populations.
Bottom line
WHO’s new research roadmap aims to strengthen global evidence on the health impacts of climate-related migration, providing governments with a foundation for more inclusive, resilient and equitable health systems.
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