Theme 2: Climate change and vector control
The WHO has identified climate change as the single greatest health threat to humanity. The 2023 World Malaria Report features a dedicated chapter on the intersection of climate change and malaria. Climate variability, including changes in temperature and rainfall, affects the behavior and survival of the malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are altering the spread of vector-borne diseases, significantly impacting human health and straining health systems. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and flooding, may increase malaria transmission and burden. Climate-related population displacement can lead to higher malaria incidence as non-immune individuals move to endemic areas. The VCWG recognises the urgent need to elevate discussions on the impact of climate change on vector control. Under this cross-cutting theme, VCWG work streams will facilitate discussions to explore the relationship between climate and vector control, the potential effects of climate change on malaria vector control and burden, and strategies to enhance climate change adaptation and reduce vulnerabilities.