At the COP26 UN climate conference, WHO and the global health community published a special report on climate change and health, entitled ‘The Health Argument for climate action’. The report provides 10 recommendations for governments on how to maximize the health benefits of tackling climate change in a variety of sectors, such as energy, transport, finance and food systems, in order to avoid the worst health impacts of the climate crisis. As part of the COP26 Health Programme, over 50 countries committed to build climate resilient and low carbon health systems. Countries agreed to take concrete steps towards creating health systems that are resilient to growing climate impacts, while many countries also committed to transform their health systems to be more sustainable and low carbon. Fourteen countries have also set a target date to reach net zero carbon emissions in their health system before 2050. WHO and its partners will be supporting these countries in achieving their commitments in the months and years ahead. These health system commitments could at the same time guide countries towards a healthy and green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote health while addressing climate change.