The Belem climate change conference: A turning point for reproductive health in Africa

Abstract

The recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) which took place in Belem, Brazil, underscored an inescapable reality: that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an immediate driver of poor sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) outcomes in many parts of the developing world, especially sub-Saharan Africa. The Belem Health Action Plan (BHAP), launched at the summit1, places health – particularly SRHR, at the core of climate adaptation, offering a roadmap for African nations to confront the intertwined crises of climate vulnerability and SRHR inequities.