Code Red for Health response in Latin America and the Caribbean: Enhancing peoples' health through climate action

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected peoples’ lives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), exacerbated social inequities, revealed deficient health systems,1 and triggered an economic recession2 that is already pushing a significant proportion of people into poverty.3 However, this current situation pales in comparison to the impacts that human-induced climate change is having and will have on people's lives and livelihoods. Climate change will magnify the health hazards many face, particularly populations exposed to food and water insecurity, heatwaves, and infectious diseases.4