The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai marked a significant milestone for the advocacy in advancing women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH) in the climate crisis. In the face of climate change, pregnant and lactating women, newborns, children, and adolescents find themselves uniquely vulnerable, as highlighted by the powerful WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA call to action on climate change and maternal, newborn, and child health. Despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions, these vulnerable groups, both current and future generations, are poised to endure the harshest consequences throughout their lifetimes. It's an unjust reality where those least responsible for the problem are set to bear the heaviest burden. Through the amplification of the recommendations of the PMNCH Advocacy Brief on climate change and WCAH, PMNCH and its leaders played a pivotal role at COP28 in advocating for the health of women, children, and adolescents in the face of the climate crisis. UNFCCC COP28 Health Day: A Historic OccasionCOP28 witnessed a groundbreaking moment as, for the first time in 28 years, a dedicated health day was established on December 3rd. PMNCH Board members, including Flavia Bustreo, Governance and Ethics Committee Chair, Githinji Gitahi, Strategic Advocacy Committee Chair, Joy Phumaphi, Partner Engagement in Countries Committee Chair, Agnes Soucat, PMNCH Board Member, and others, played pivotal roles in key partner events, contributing their voices to discussions on the intersection of climate change and health. For instance, Githinji Gitahi, Strategic Advocacy Committee Chair and AMREF Health Africa CEO, closed the Health Day CO28 Presidency High-Level Event reflecting on the health community’s role in the advocacy at COP28 and beyond, and chaired the Climate and Health Ministerial meeting. Flavia Bustreo, Governance and Ethics Committee Chair and Vice President of Fondation Botnar, presented the recommendations of the PMNCH Advocacy Brief at the Save the Children event 'Child Survival at the Centre of the Climate Crisis' and at the UNFPA event 'Road to ICPD@30: Enhancing Rights-based NDCs and Integration of Gender-responsive Approaches', together with Julitta Onabanjo, Director, Technical Division, UNFPA. Joy Phumaphi, Partner Engagement in Countries Committee Chair and Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), presented the findings of the Pathfinder Commission Pathways to a healthy net zero future. Agnes Soucat, PMNCH Board Member and Director of Health and Social Protection at the French Development Agency, highlighted the importance of intersectoral financing, including climate financing, for WCAH at several events organized jointly by the World Bank and other multilateral development banks.Parliamentary Engagement for Climate PoliciesOn December 6th, PMNCH took part in the first-ever Parliamentary meeting within the COP premises. Led by Flavia Bustreo, the delegation engaged in bilateral meetings with parliamentarians, advocating for climate policies at the country level to address the health of women, children, and adolescents. The roundtable discussion, 'How can women and young MPs make a difference in climate governance?', provided a platform for meaningful dialogue with women and young parliamentarians to advance climate action for WCAH, rights and well-being by transforming international agreements in national laws and budgets. Youth Day and 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaignOn December 8th, designated as Youth Day, PMNCH hosted the '1.8 Billion Young People for Change' booth, attracting over 500 enthusiastic young participants. Through engaging activities and interviews with over 30 young people, PMNCH collected valuable lived experiences for the 1.8 Billion channels. The campaign and results of the 'What Young People Want' dashboard were presented at key pavilions, including the Children and Youth Pavilion, emphasizing the importance of youth perspectives in addressing climate challenges. PMNCH young leaders also took centre stage at COP28. Hafsah Muheed, Adolescent and Youth Constituency Secretary and member of the UNFPA Joint Youth Working Group on SRHR and Climate Change, moderated an event at the Health Pavilion ‘Climate Action Delivering for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Gaps and Opportunities’. Together, PMNCH leaders also carefully followed the negotiations regarding the role of the Youth Climate Champion proposed by the COP28 Presidency. Advocacy Beyond EventsPMNCH extended its advocacy efforts beyond event participation. Through social media, country outreach, and bilateral meetings, PMNCH leaders disseminated the recommendations from the PMNCH Advocacy Brief on climate change and women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health. A blog post from PMNCH young leaders highlighted the outcomes of Health Day and its implications for the health and well-being of young people and future generations. COP28 Outcomes: A Crucial Implication for Women, Children, and Adolescent Health The inaugural Health Day at COP28 served as a pivotal moment, placing people's lives at the forefront of climate talks. With an impressive health presence, including over 50 health ministers and endorsements from 140+ countries on the Declaration on Climate and Health, COP28 sent a resounding message that the success of climate action should be measured in lives saved, emphasizing the human impact rather than mere temperature metrics. However, sustaining Health Day's significance in future COPs and mainstreaming health as a critical factor for ambitious climate action requires continued efforts. COP28 celebrated some victories, such as the initial funding of the Loss & Damage (L&D) fund on day one and the unanimous endorsement by all countries for a 'transition away from fossil fuels' in the Global Stocktake. The PMNCH community welcomes the encouragement to Parties to ‘’implement climate policy and action that is gender-responsive, fully respects human rights, and empowers youth and child’’ (Article 178, Decision -/CMA.5, Global Stocktake). In particular, the agreement to establish an expert dialogue on children and climate change to discuss the disproportionate impact of climate change on children at the 76th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation in June 2024, represents a significant step forward in the recognition of intergenerational climate justice and the need to protect children’s health (Article 182, Decision -/CMA.5, Global Stocktake). These hard-fought achievements underscore the importance of persistent advocacy within the global community. Despite these wins, there remains a critical need for global leaders to dramatically scale up action and investment to fulfill their commitments. Several health organizations have reflected on the outcomes and what they mean for people’s health. The COP28 outcomes fell short of the necessary standards, revealing a severe lack of funding and accountability for adaptation support. Furthermore, the lack of consensus on a fossil fuel phase out shows countries still fall short in placing people’s health and human rights at the core. The presence of influential fossil fuel lobbyists, ranking as the third-largest delegation after UAE and Brazil, highlights the challenges in achieving more ambitious climate goals. Moreover, the negotiations on the Gender Agenda Item continue to show parties backtracking on language and lacking resources for implementation, weakening the progress towards a successful Gender Action Plan. All COP28 decisions can be accessed here. Moving forward As we navigate the path beyond COP28, strong political leadership and decisive actions are imperative to ensure that the outcomes align with the urgent need for effective climate action, safeguarding the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents globally. PMNCH will continue to advocate for advancing the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents in t