Lagos Leads Global Coalition Report on Climate Change Health Risks

• Sub-Saharan African cities could save 99,000 lives a year by tackling climate threats to health, new report finds.
• Without action, heat and air pollution deaths in cities will rise by nearly 50% by 2030
• Four low-cost intervention bundles could offer major health and climate gains worldwide

 

A global coalition of cities, healthcare companies, and researchers today launched a report showing how climate-conscious action can save 99,000 lives each year and cut healthcare costs by $800 million in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, playing a critical role in protecting health systems from breaking under climate stress.

 

The report is the first output of Resilient Cities, Reimagining Health – a partnership between the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the Resilient Cities Network, led by Reckitt and Bupa, with support from the Yale School of Public Health, Mode Economics, and Sanofi – that brings together 29 cities, including Lagos, Nairobi, Greater Manchester, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.

 

Called The Case for Action: The power of prevention to support health in a changing climate, the report was developed with a first-of-its-kind Community of Practice and reveals how practical, city-led interventions can ease pressure on health systems while delivering major health and climate benefits.

 

The report warns that rising chronic disease, aging populations, skyrocketing healthcare costs and health inequalities are pushing health systems to breaking point. Indeed from 2020 to 2030, urban mortality from heat is projected to rise 87%, and from air pollution 40% in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

 

Yet the report provides hope: low-cost, high-impact measures could transform outcomes. The modelling shows that four bundles of city-led interventions could save more than 99,000 lives per year, cut $800 million in healthcare costs, and avoid 0.4 MtCO₂e, when applied across cities in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The solutions include:

• Simple interventions such as urban greening, cool roofs, active transport, could cut related deaths by 11% for air quality and 33% for heat.
• Short term measures to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), such as point-of-use water filtration devices, and water infrastructure upgrades could prevent 64,000 deaths a year.
• Everyday healthy lifestyle promotion through urban design and social prescribing could prevent 6,000 deaths per year by 2030.
• Practical community resilience measures, like early warning systems and awareness campaigns could cut mortality by up to 13% in some cities and often rely on simple, affordable materials.

 

The coalition is now building a blueprint for climate-resilient health and co-developing a practical guide to embedding health equity and prevention directly into climate plans, as well as bespoke assessment tools to identify and prioritise local interventions, strengthening investment cases.

 

Katrin Bruebach, Global Director of Programs, Resilient Cities Network, said: “The Case for Action: The power of prevention to support health in a changing climate report is only the beginning of a suite of resources that our cities have asked for to help them understand better the intersection of climate, health and equity. This collective work between 29 pioneering cities, healthcare companies, academia and the private sector, will continue to evolve giving cities both the evidence to advocate for the resources they need and the guidance to take decisive action.”

 

The initiative reflects the growing recognition that reactive models of healthcare are no longer sustainable. Instead, place-based, cross-sector solutions, from infrastructure to preventative care, must form the foundation of a new approach.

 

Kris Licht, CEO of Reckitt said: “As pressures on global health systems grow, reaching people before they become patients, including through prevention, self-care, and climate adaptation, is more critical than ever. This project is part of our work to advance access to health and hygiene around the world, offering cities practical tools to deliver lifesaving interventions –that ease pressures on health systems, and benefit people and planet”.

 

Iñaki Ereño, CEO, Bupa, said: “Good health starts long before medical care is needed – in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the cities we live in. But these foundations are increasingly under threat from a changing climate, which is making it harder to stay well and harder for healthcare systems to keep pace. At Bupa, we believe the answer lies in prevention: strengthening the environments, systems, and models that sustain health. By reimagining cities with wellbeing at their core, and working with partners, we can help people stay healthier for longer, reduce health inequalities, and build healthcare systems that are both resilient and sustainable.”

 

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, M.V.O., CEO, Sustainable Markets Initiative, said: “Cities are the heartbeat of our societies, shaping the lives, livelihoods and aspirations of billions of people around the world. At SMI, we see clean and healthy cities as essential to achieving a sustainable future. This demands practical action—deploying advanced technologies, green infrastructure, renewable energy, clean public transport, walkable cities, and inclusive human-centred green spaces. By investing in resilient cities, we empower communities, enhance well-being, drive global progress and accelerate prosperity for generations to come.”

 

Jeannette Ickovics, Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, said: “We made a strategic decision to focus on prevention, emphasizing the importance of leadership in cities to promote climate and health resilience for all. We demonstrate that these evidence-based solutions are feasible and cost effective. Acting now is essential to protect health in the face of climate change.”

 

The report considers insights from city leaders around the world, who have expressed the need of support to formulate, implement and finance city interventions to address the increasing threats that climate change poses to the health of their citizens.

 

Thiago Curvello, Chief Executive of the Centre for Operations and Resilience, City of Rio de Janeiro, said: “In Rio de Janeiro, data is essential to build the responses to the health impacts of climate change. We’ve made good progress, but there’s still much more to be done. That’s why we welcome this new report, as it provides insights and strategies that could help Rio de Janeiro become even safer and more resilient for all residents.”

 

Dr Kathy Oldham OBE, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, expressed: “In Greater Manchester, we know that some of our residents face greater health risks from the effects of climate change. It’s critical to have data that underscores the need to focus on the most vulnerable and that makes the case for building resilience at the community level.”

 

Roberto Castillo Cruz, Director General for Environmental Policy and Culture Coordination, Mexico City, said: “Cities like Mexico City face countless competing priorities. Reliable data, advanced modelling, and community insights are vital in demonstrating how climate and social factors shape public health, building the case for targeted investments that make the city safer, healthier, and more just. Community-led heat mapping and early warning systems already in place showcase Mexico City’s pioneering work at the climate and heat nexus, and this report underscores the urgency of scaling such efforts and reinforcing our commitment to protect all residents.”