China’s health gains over the past decades face potential reversals if climate change adaptation is not prioritized. China’s temperature rise surpasses the global average due to urban heat
islands and ecological changes, and demands urgent actions to safeguard public health. Effective adaptation need to consider China’s urbanization trends, underlying non-communicable diseases, an
aging population, and future pandemic threats. Climate change adaptation initiatives and strategies include urban green space, healthy indoor environments, spatial planning for cities, advance
location-specifific early warning systems for extreme weather events, and a holistic approach for linking carbon neutrality to health co-benefifits. Innovation and technology uptake is a crucial
opportunity. China’s successful climate adaptation can foster international collaboration regionally and beyond.