Key Takeaways
- Only 0.5% of climate funds ($173M since 2004) support health systems in vulnerable nations
- Massive $2.54B health adaptation gap exists despite 87% of countries including health in climate plans
- South Asia receives zero dedicated health adaptation funding despite bearing 18% of climate health impacts
A stark new report reveals that global climate finance is failing health systems worldwide, with just 0.5% of multilateral climate funding directed toward health adaptation in vulnerable countries. The findings emerge as COP30 opens in Belém, Brazil, where health is expected to take center stage.
Critical Funding Gap Exposed
The adelphi report shows that only $173 million has been allocated to health system support since 2004, despite identified needs of $2.54 billion through National Adaptation Plans. This represents less than 0.1% of required financing being met.
Mathilde Wilkens, co-author of the report, emphasized the urgency: “The climate crisis and its impact on human health are severe and life-threatening. It is already impacting health, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.”
Regional Disparities in Funding
The report highlights alarming geographic imbalances in health adaptation funding:
- Two-thirds of investments flow to East Asia and Pacific
- Only one-quarter reaches Sub-Saharan Africa
- South Asia receives zero dedicated health adaptation projects
- Fragile states get merely 4% of adaptation finance
This distribution occurs despite South Asia being projected to bear 18% of future climate-related health impacts.
Country Perspectives and Needs
Md. Shamsuddoha from Bangladesh’s CPRD warned: “As one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, Bangladesh faces escalating health threats from climate change, from infectious diseases to heat stress and mental health impacts.”
He stressed that scaling up multilateral climate funds for health sectors and strengthening early warning systems are essential for protecting communities and achieving national adaptation goals.
COP30: The Adaptation Opportunity
Dubbed the “Adaptation COP,” the November 10-22 summit is expected to launch the Belém Health Action Plan, positioning health at the center of adaptation negotiations.
The report urges negotiators to ensure health systems receive targeted, grant-based support that doesn’t increase debt burdens. Key recommendations include improved finance access, grant-based funding for developing countries, and finalizing ambitious Global Goal on Adaptation indicators.
The findings underscore the critical need to align climate and health investment priorities to build resilient health systems worldwide.
