The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global research prioritisation and action plan aimed at strengthening evidence on the health impacts of climate change-driven migration and displacement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, WHO said the initiative — the Global Research Prioritisation Exercise (GRPE) — was unveiled during a virtual webinar held on July 22, which brought together more than 300 participants from over 75 countries.
The organisation said the plan seeks to address one of the most pressing and under-researched global health challenges by generating evidence to support equitable and migration-inclusive health systems.
According to WHO, climate change is increasingly contributing to migration and displacement, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations with limited capacity to adapt while influencing health risks and access to healthcare throughout the migration journey.
Santino Severoni, head of WHO Health and Migration, said closing research gaps was critical to advancing health equity.
“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,” he said.
WHO said the GRPE is the first thematic initiative under its Global Research Agenda on Health, Migration and Displacement and was developed through expert consultations, stakeholder engagement and global surveys.
It identified priority research areas, including addressing social inequities and vulnerabilities, improving access to health systems and services, strengthening 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 impacts of climate-related mobility.
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, head of WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality, said stronger evidence was needed to guide policy responses.
“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,” he said.
The organisation added that the launch reinforced a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration across the climate, health and migration sectors and ensuring that research findings translate into practical policies and interventions.
It added that discussions during the webinar highlighted the need to strengthen migration-sensitive data systems, promote participatory and community-centred research, and develop evidence-based responses that reflect the realities of people affected by climate-related mobility.
