As world leaders and experts gather at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to address the growing climate crisis, one question deserves greater attention: What does a changing climate mean for the health of our planet and its people?

For Bernhard Schwartländer, co-chair of the governing board and distinguished chair professor at the Planetary Health Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, the answer can be found in understanding planetary health as an interconnected system, which links the well-being of all global population and animals, plants and ecosystems with the way societies are governed and countries work together.

These challenges know no borders and cannot be tackled by any country alone. Global health security depends on collective action, but cooperation must go beyond sharing resources. It must also empower countries, particularly those in the Global South, to build up their healthcare systems and strengthen their capacity to respond to future crises. Only through inclusive collaboration and stronger local capabilities can the world build a healthier, more resilient future for all.