COP30 in Belém highlighted the urgent intersection of climate change, air pollution, and cardiovascular health. Climate hazards including heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and deteriorating air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating cardiovascular disease and straining fragile health systems. Air pollution, a major contributor to global CVD mortality, shares common sources with climate change, yet both act through distinct health pathways. Low- and middle-income countries face the greatest burden, reflecting inequities in social determinants, energy use, and urban infrastructure. The World Heart Federation emphasizes that climate action is cardiovascular action: reducing emissions, improving air quality, and building climate-resilient health systems are among the most effective preventive cardiology interventions. The Belém Health Action Plan provides a framework for integrating CVD into national climate strategies, strengthening health system preparedness, and fostering community resilience. Political leadership is critical to translate commitments into tangible health gains, as exemplified by successful urban interventions. Protecting hearts requires protecting the planet; coordinated climate-health action offers a pathway to healthier populations and sustainable societies.
Prabhakaran et al. (Thu,) studied this question.