Increasing global concern for climate change and adverse health impacts heightened the need for public health responses and adaptive strategies to reduce health risks. Health systems, individuals and local communities worldwide are faced with pressing issues from the increasing threat of vector borne diseases and disasters from more frequent and intense extreme weather events. Though these phenomena affect the population in general, their negative health consequences are unevenly felt, with vulnerable communities being impacted more severely. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of climate change and health vulnerability, and a commitment to prioritize public health objectives to serve the most vulnerable populations. Developing adaptive measures to manage emergencies, reduce risks and protect and promote the health of vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of climate change have emerged as priority concerns. Responding to health risks of climate change requires knowledge relating to the science of climate change, concepts such as 'vulnerability' and 'adaptive capacity', relevant assessment tools and adaptation strategy options. Also important are skills relating to partnership and multi-sectoral collaboration, community engagement, risk communication and risk management, knowledge synthesis and analysis, systems thinking and health policy analysis and development. These skills and strategies are also that of health promotion a priority aims of which is to improve equity and pursue sustainable development. This paper will discuss climate change impacts on health and the public health system coping capacity and explain how health promotion can contribute to adaptation to climate change by communities and protect vulnerable populations. It will first overview how climate change adverse impacts increase the threats to the health systems already stretching their resource to cope with existing challenges from globalization, urbanization, industrialization, infectious diseases spread, and disasters. Second section will explain key concepts and methodological steps from assessing vulnerability, risks, to developing adaptive plans. Third section will provide examples from healthy cities and communities, and a global consortium based at Griffith University on their efforts to respond to climate change. Finally, it will discuss how goals, principles and strategies of health promotion are well suited to be part of the climate change response solution, contributing to the transformation of cities and communities to adapt environmental friendly policies and actions toward a sustainable future.