Mexico City, Rio Lead Coalition on Climate-Related Health Action

Latin American and Caribbean cities could save 45,000 lives annually and cut health care costs by US$2 billion if they adopt preventive measures, according to a report issued by a new global coalition led by Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro. 

“This project is part of our work to improve access to health and hygiene worldwide, providing cities with practical tools to implement life-saving interventions,” says Kris Licht, Executive Director, Reckitt.

The initiative, Resilient Cities, Reimagining Health, is a partnership between the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the Resilient Cities Network, supported by Reckitt, Bupa, the Yale School of Public Health, Mode Economics, and Sanofi. The network brings together 29 cities, including Buenos Aires, Medellín, Montevideo, Panama City, and Santiago.

The report, “The Case for Action: The Power of Prevention to Support Health in a Changing Climate,” warns that urban health systems are under pressure from rising chronic disease, aging populations, growing health care costs, and widening health inequalities. Without intervention, mortality from heat-related causes in the region’s cities could rise by 59% between 2020 and 2030, while deaths linked to air pollution could increase by 11%.

To counter this trend, the report outlines four packages of low-cost interventions. Urban greening, cool roofs, and active transport could cut air pollution-related deaths by 15% and heat-related deaths by 34%. Improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure could prevent 12,000 deaths annually. Urban design that promotes healthy lifestyles could avoid 13,000 deaths by 2030. Community-based resilience measures, including early warning systems and awareness campaigns, could reduce mortality by up to 13% in some cities.

The coalition is developing a roadmap for climate-resilient health and practical guidance for integrating health equity and prevention into climate action plans. The work also includes tailored assessment tools to help cities identify and prioritize interventions, strengthening the case for investment.