Dive Brief:
- A coalition of philanthropic organizations is investing $300 million to develop solutions and back research to help address the health impacts of climate change.
- The inaugural funding effort was announced at COP30 last week and is backed by the Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ikea Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation, among others. The investment particularly aims to tackle health risks that arise from extreme heat, air pollution and infectious diseases, according to a Nov. 13 release.
- The Climate and Health Funders Coalition said the funding will also support the implementation of the Belém Health Action Plan — a framework launched by Brazil, the annual climate summit’s host country. The plan outlines steps countries can take to strengthen their health sectors’ “adaptation and resilience” to climate change.
Dive Insight:
The coalition of philanthropies said the funding will be primarily targeted for fast-tracking solutions, innovations, research and policies that can tackle the risks related to climate-driven events, like rising temperatures and extreme heat.
The group said in the release that the world needs to “act with urgency,” as rising temperatures are driving “deadly heatwaves, increased air pollution, worsening nutrition, threats to maternal and newborn health, and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.”
The coalition noted that climate change has disproportionate impacts across the globe and affects marginalized communities and vulnerable regions the most, ultimately worsening existing health inequities.
“The warnings from scientists on climate change have become reality. And, it is clear that not all people are affected equally” John-Arne Røttingen, CEO at the Wellcome Trust — one of the coalition members — said in the release. “The impacts of rising temperatures hit the most vulnerable people hardest — children, pregnant people, older people, outdoor workers and those communities with the least resources to respond.”
The funding is in line with Brazil’s broader effort at COP30 to boost countries' ability to prepare for and adapt to extreme climate-change driven events like floods, wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and hurricanes.
