On 9 November 2026, during Health Day at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), Akmaral Alnazarova, Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Alibek Kuantyrov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, will host a high-level event in collaboration with WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The event, which will take place at the National Pavilion of Kazakhstan in Antalya, Türkiye, will address the growing risks that climate change poses to maternal and newborn health.
Rising temperatures and extreme heat are increasingly recognized as public health concerns, with potential consequences for pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes and newborn health. Protecting maternal and newborn health in a warming world requires stronger evidence, coordinated action and the integration of climate-related health risks into national health policies and services.
The programme will include findings from a health impact study by Ghent University and UNFPA in Kazakhstan examining the relationship between heat exposure and pregnancy outcomes. A further presentation will explore how environmental changes in the Aral Sea basin may affect pregnancy and birth outcomes, highlighting the health implications of environmental degradation in one of the region’s most vulnerable areas.
A moderated panel discussion titled “From evidence to practice: protecting pregnant women in a warming world – what works?” will focus on translating research into practical action. Participants will consider how evidence can inform health policies, strengthen preparedness and support effective interventions to protect pregnant women and newborns in the context of climate change.