Climate Change’s Impact on Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that:
Two billion people globally lack safe drinking water.
600 million suffer from foodborne illnesses annually.
Children under five bear 30% of foodborne fatalities.
37% of heat-related deaths are attributed to human-induced climate change.
Heat-related deaths among those over 65 have risen by 70% in two decades.
Climate change exacerbates health issues, leading to heat-related illnesses, water-borne and vector-borne diseases, malnutrition from disrupted food systems, and respiratory illnesses due to poor air quality. Developing countries, the least contributors to climate change, face the greatest vulnerability with limited resources to adapt and protect their populations. By 2050, climate change could cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and USD 12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide. Healthcare systems, already strained, will face costs exceeding USD 1.1 trillion.
The Climate-Health Funding Gap
Health-specific climate action is underfunded, with only around 6% of adaptation funding and 0.5% of multilateral climate funding allocated to health projects. Low and middle-income countries need at least USD 11 billion annually this decade to adapt to climate impacts and enhance health system resilience. Demand for health adaptation funding is growing, with 95% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) including health considerations.
GCF’s Initiatives to Bridge the Gap
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is addressing these funding gaps through various initiatives:
Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessments:
Investment of over USD 5.2 million to assist 15 countries in conducting assessments leading to Health National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs).
Direct Health Sector Projects:
USD 32.5 million invested, including:
USD 12.5 million to enhance the climate resilience of health systems in the Cook Islands.
USD 25 million to strengthen Laos’ health system and capacity in 25 rural districts.
Co-benefit Projects:
Nearly USD 460 million committed to 13 non-health sector projects with significant health benefits, such as:
Electric and active mobility projects in Latin America and India.
Zero-emissions bus rapid transit in Pakistan.
Clean cooking solutions in Kenya and Senegal.
Urban water supply and wastewater management in Fiji and Senegal.
Hurricane resilience in Antigua and Barbuda.
Metropolitan climate resilience in Liberia.
Multi-stakeholder Approach:
Project Preparation Facility: USD 1.5 million grant (matched by UNDP and WHO) for a proposed USD 122 million global climate and health program to develop long-term strategies and incubate innovations.
Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions: Developed with various partners, triggering a multilateral health and climate investment framework to be launched at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
The Path Forward
A strategic shift in investment is needed to safeguard global health. Investments in health and climate resilience are crucial for better health outcomes, economic growth, job creation, social inclusion, and gender equity, particularly as women make up 70% of the health workforce. GCF will continue to work in partnership to mobilize additional financing and resources to address the climate-health nexus equitably.
