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A call to action: Integrating health into climate change
The COP28 declaration provides a road map for leveraging synergies between climate change and health.
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Personal protection: Wearing masks, pedestrians walk on a footbridge over Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta on Aug. 8, 2023. The city government had called on residents to protect themselves from air pollution with masks during outdoor activities. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
The once-distant threat of climate change has morphed into a rapidly unfolding crisis, exceeding predictions and pushing healthcare systems in developing nations to the brink.
Recent studies by the World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) paint an alarming picture: by 2030, climate change could plunge an additional 132 million people into extreme poverty, with 44 million suffering direct health consequences. This translates to a staggering annual healthcare burden of US$2 billion to $4 billion.
The urgency of this crisis was acknowledged at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), an event intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change, hosted by the United Arab Emirates last December.
The conference culminated in the "Declaration on Climate and Health", a global commitment to tackle climate-related health impacts and bolster healthcare systems. While the convergence of climate and health presents significant challenges, it also offers crucial opportunities to build a healthier future for all.
Integrating health considerations into climate change efforts presents a complex dynamic. It elevates health as a critical global public good, potentially unlocking new funding opportunities.
Imagine a world where healthcare facilities are equipped to handle heatstroke surges during extreme weather events, or where robust early warning systems prevent the spread of waterborne diseases caused by flooding. This vision requires substantial investment, not just in traditional climate mitigation projects, but also in strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of vulnerable communities.
However, this optimistic outlook is tempered by the current state of climate change financing. Developed nations have fallen far short of their 2010 pledge to collectively mobilize $100 billion annually toward climate finance by 2020 and beyond.
