Call for Proposals: Ideas Lab at the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health

Issued by: World Health Organization (WHO)
Submission Deadline: 10 June 2025
Conference Dates: 29–31 July 2025
Location: Brasília, Brazil

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a call for proposals to participate in the Ideas Lab, a central feature of the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health. Scheduled to take place in Brasília from 29 to 31 July 2025, this high-level conference will convene international stakeholders across sectors to examine how ambitious and equitable climate actions can generate significant co-benefits for public health.

The Conference aligns with the lead-up to COP30, which Brazil will host in November 2025. Its outcomes will shape global discourse on health and climate, with a particular emphasis on justice, resilience, and multisectoral engagement.

The Belém Health Action Plan

A key deliverable of the Conference will be the launch and consolidation of the Belém Health Action Plan, a strategic framework that outlines the health sector’s role in advancing climate adaptation, resilience, and equity. The Action Plan seeks to ensure that health remains central to global and national climate negotiations, including COP30 and its designated Health Day.

The Ideas Lab: Purpose and Scope

The Ideas Lab will serve as a dynamic, participatory platform within the Global Conference, offering space for the exchange of innovative ideas, cross-disciplinary research, and forward-thinking policies at the intersection of climate change and public health. This initiative is designed to elevate diverse voices particularly from underrepresented communities and foster collaborative solutions to global challenges.

Objectives of the Ideas Lab

The Ideas Lab will:

• Facilitate evidence-based, future-oriented dialogues on climate and health.
• Promote local, Indigenous, youth-led, and technology-driven innovations.
• Enable knowledge sharing among governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Generate policy recommendations that inform the Belém Health Action Plan and COP30 discussions.
• Support the development of inclusive, resilient, and climate-smart health systems.

Selection Criteria for Proposals

WHO will select Ideas Lab sessions through a merit-based, inclusive process to ensure diversity, relevance, and impact. Proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Practical Relevance and Impact Potential

Proposals must be grounded in real-world practices either in progress or completed and demonstrate a tangible contribution to the climate-health nexus. Preference will be given to submissions that offer adaptable solutions, context-driven approaches, and outcomes backed by field-tested data or lived experience.

2. Regional and Institutional Representation

The selection process will prioritize regional balance and institutional diversity. Proposals from low- and middle-income countries, subnational governments, and actors from underrepresented geographical areas are especially encouraged.

3. Innovation and Transformational Value

Sessions should highlight forward-thinking ideas, emerging technologies, or scalable models that can contribute to the adaptation of health systems to climate-related risks. Submissions that illustrate systems thinking, intersectoral partnerships, or novel approaches to health governance will receive strong consideration.

4. Equity and Inclusivity

WHO highly values proposals that reflect principles of gender equity, youth participation, and the integration of Indigenous or traditional knowledge systems. Initiatives that emphasize community engagement and leadership in addressing climate-health challenges will be regarded as particularly relevant.

5. Contribution to COP30 Outcomes

Proposals that directly inform the preparation and outcomes of COP30 particularly those aligned with its Health Day agenda will be prioritized. Presentations should ideally contribute to shaping long-term strategies and policy frameworks within the health and climate interface.

Submission Process

Interested applicants must submit their proposals here by 10 June 2025 using the appropriate online form, available in multiple languages:

Only proposals submitted through the designated forms will be considered. Participation in the Ideas Lab will be by invitation following the review and selection process.

Expected Impact

The Ideas Lab is expected to yield high-quality, solution-oriented insights that will directly inform:

• The Belém Health Action Plan.
• National and global strategies for health system resilience.
• Thematic priorities for COP30 and subsequent health-climate dialogues.

In doing so, it will serve as a model for inclusive, actionable, and context-responsive knowledge sharing at the intersection of public health and climate change.

Further Information

For full Terms of Reference and additional details, applicants are advised to visit the official WHO webpage related to the Ideas Lab and the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization or entity. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.