Date of Award

January 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Colin Carlson

Abstract

Introduction: For over three years, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have been negotiating a treaty to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. The Pandemic Agreement is anticipated to be adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2025. Growing scientific evidence underscores the effects of climate change on infectious diseases, including those that could lead to pandemics. This thesis examines how climate change has been addressed in the drafting and negotiations of the Pandemic Agreement.

Methods: All the references related to climate change in the transcripts of the publicly broadcast Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) meetings and the official drafts of the Pandemic Agreement published on the WHO website as of March 2025 were coded using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches. Additionally, the latest draft of the treaty available at the time of this research was systematically analyzed using evidence from the scientific literature.

Results and Discussion: Some Member States and Relevant Stakeholders advocated for the inclusion of climate change in the Pandemic Agreement, while others used climate change as a rationale for the urgency or importance of the Pandemic Agreement. The conceptualization of the interconnection between pandemics and climate change in the draft treaty evolved throughout the negotiations; ultimately, climatic factors are recognized as potential drivers of pandemic risk. This marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time global health law addresses climate change. Multilateral cooperation on climate change was cited throughout the negotiations as a relevant model for the Pandemic Agreement and in the discussions of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR). Moreover, Member States underscored the need for coordination and coherence between the Pandemic Agreement and international climate change law. The systematic analysis of the draft treaty shows that numerous provisions for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response address, both directly and indirectly, pandemic risks and other health challenges associated with climate change. Additionally, several obligations will bring co-benefits for climate change adaptation and health.

Comments

This thesis is restricted to Yale network users only. It will be made publicly available on 06/16/2026

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