December 1st, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Cara Cook, MS, RN, AHN-BC
Deputy Director
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
cara@envirn.org
585-469-2383
Nurses Respond to Incremental Progress Made at COP30 & Failure to Deliver an Agreement on a Fossil Fuel Phaseout
[Washington, D.C] – The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) negotiations wrapped on November 22nd, 2025. There was noted progress made, albeit incremental. The Belém Health Action Plan, the first climate adaptation plan for health, was launched. This initiative aims to support the health sector’s adaptation to climate change through strengthened surveillance systems, capacity building, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking. Major philanthropic organizations pledged an initial investment of USD 300 million to support implementation of the Plan. Another noted area of progress included a coordination mechanism to support just transitions, with strong rights-based language included. Unfortunately, despite 80+ countries supporting a fossil fuel phase out plan, countries failed to agree on language calling for a phaseout in the final text. Further, there are still major concerns about the lack of adaptation finance to support countries, particularly those in the Global South, to adapt to the climate crisis. In response to the COP outcomes, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Executive Director, Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“While incremental, we did see some much needed progress made at this year’s COP. Nurses applaud the launch of the Belém Health Action Plan which provides a foundation for building health sector resilience. Yet it is critical that there are adequate means of implementation and climate finance to accelerate solutions so that the Belém Health Action Plan does not remain solely a commitment. Nurses further welcome the strengthened provisions on the Just Transition Work Program, as we know how critical a just transition is to promoting healthy communities and protecting workers.
“Despite the progress made, there is still a lack of bold and ambitious action that centers people’s health. Countries came into COP30 knowing that we are far from meeting the 1.5 degree celsius goal of the Paris Agreement, yet leaders failed to agree on a concrete outcome to implement a fair and just fossil fuel phaseout. For far too long climate negotiations have failed to deliver what the scale of the climate crisis requires – an end to our dependence on fossil fuels. Nurses came into this COP with a strong call to move from discussions to agreement on a roadmap for implementation and finance to support a phase out of fossil fuels – centering health and grounded in equity and justice. Without addressing the root causes of climate change, world leaders continue to put people at risk from climate impacts.
“It is clear that this COP did not go far enough. Wealthy countries – even with the absence of the United States – continued to block progress on a concrete action plan to address the massive gap in ambition and failed to agree on adequate climate finance to support impacted communities. Nurses will continue to push global leaders to deliver action that provides the health protections our communities and future generations deserve.”
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to support nurses in promoting planetary health and equity globally by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating planet-safe practice, and influencing policy.
