The 18th World Congress on Public Health will be held in Cape Town from 6 to 9 September 2026, drawing global attention to the intersection of energy systems and public health across Africa and the global South. The congress, themed “Health Without Borders: Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability,” is confirmed by both the World Congress on Public Health and the World Federation of Public Health Associations.
The World Health Organization reports that ambient and household air pollution together cause approximately 7 million premature deaths each year, with outdoor air pollution alone accounting for an estimated 4.2 million. These figures highlight the human cost of energy systems reliant on fossil fuels, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where energy poverty restricts access to clean cooking, heating, and reliable power for clinics.
A scoping review published in BMC Public Health found that generator emissions across Africa contain harmful pollutants including nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and fine particulate matter, all linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease risks. The same review cautioned that the evidence base remains limited, with no studies establishing a direct causal relationship between household generator air pollution and specific health outcomes.
The International Energy Agency’s Kenya 2024 country review, updated in August 2025, reports that Kenya generates nearly 90% of its electricity from renewable sources including geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar. That figure, independently confirmed by the IEA, illustrates how some African nations are shifting toward cleaner energy mixes that could reduce pollution-related health burdens.
Academic research on energy and health in low- and middle-income countries, published in the journal Energy and Health, states that energy access is central to human health — from cooking and heating to refrigeration of medicines and vaccines. The same paper notes that persistent energy poverty in these countries contributes to disease burdens and undermines health-system performance.
For Cape Town, hosting the congress positions the city as a continental hub for public health discourse at a time when South Africa grapples with air quality challenges in industrial areas and informal settlements reliant on coal and paraffin. The opening ceremony is set for Sunday, 6 September 2026, with the closing ceremony on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, according to the World Congress on Public Health website.
Several claims in the original Daily Maverick article of 1 September 2025 — including references to the Strait of Hormuz conflict, the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement’s Deadly Air case, Zimbabwean solar-powered clinics, and Ethiopia hosting COP32 in 2027 — could not be independently verified by Cape Flats News through available sources. These items remain unconfirmed and we are checking with the relevant organisations for verification.
What remains unknown is the full congress programme, including which African health and energy ministers will attend and whether specific energy-health policy resolutions will be put forward. Cape Flats News journalist Siphokazi Mbiko will follow up with the World Congress on Public Health organisers for updated speaker lists and registration details as the September 2026 date approaches.