How investing in health can drive effective climate action

By Vivek Saini 

While the recent COP-28 conference wrapped up, the echoes of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2023 review still resonate. It is a stark reminder that prioritizing health within national climate plans is not a distant ambition but a crucial legacy of COP-28 and a necessary path forward. The conference, though concluded, highlighted the undeniable truth: climate change is a present threat to our health and well-being, its impacts already evident in extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and rising cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

Integrating Health into Climate Strategies

Considerable strides have been taken in incorporating health considerations into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low emissions and development strategies (LT-LEDS), the primary policy tools outlined by the Paris Agreement to mitigate emissions and enhance climate resilience. Presently, 91% of the accessible NDCs encompass health aspects, a notable increase from the 70% reported in 2019. This signifies a growing trend in formulating climate targets and policies that integrate health perspectives across various aspects, including mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation, Loss and Damage, and long-term sustainable development strategies, surpassing previous iterations of national climate plans.

“This progress is encouraging,” notes Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health, “but we need to shift gears. Commitments must be scaled up, accelerated, and adequately funded to safeguard the health and livelihoods of generations to come.”

Air Pollution: A Looming Threat in Need of Urgent Action

Despite notable advancements, substantial gaps persist in the implementation of measures. While decisive efforts against air pollution could save lives, merely 16% of NDCs presently incorporate dedicated targets, measures, or policies to diminish air pollution.

Air pollution is a significant environmental threat to health, contributing to approximately seven million premature deaths annually. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory ailments such as asthma and pneumonia account for these fatalities, with a disproportionate impact on children in low- and middle-income countries. Elevating actions to curtail carbon emissions not only addresses climate concerns but also yields broader health advantages. Encouraging activities like walking and cycling and endorsing sustainable and nutritious diets enhances health and mitigates climate-related impacts. 

Investing in clean energy, promoting sustainable transportation like cycling and walking, and supporting dietary shifts towards healthier and more environmentally friendly options are examples of win-win actions that benefit both climate and health. Additionally, studies like LT-LEDS estimate significant economic savings from air pollution reduction, further highlighting the compelling cost-benefit argument for climate action.

Funding the Future: Where Health Needs Investment

Securing sustainable climate finance is vital for health adaptation, mitigation, and resilient development, yet health remains consistently underfunded in national strategies addressing climate change. The capacity of countries to engage in climate change actions is closely tied to their financial resources. Unfortunately, those nations most vulnerable to climate impacts often lack the financial means to pursue effective climate action. Despite relying on multilateral climate financing, a mere 2% of adaptation funding and 0.5% of overall climate funding are currently directed toward projects explicitly aimed at safeguarding or enhancing human health.

To ensure an equitable and effective response to climate change, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for increased allocation of multilateral climate financing. Specifically, these funds should be directed toward policies and initiatives that explicitly aim to protect or improve human health. This targeted allocation is crucial for fostering a more resilient and health-conscious approach to climate change on a global scale.

The 2023 WHO review is not just a call to action. It’s a blueprint for building a healthier future through climate-resilient policies. Recognizing the inextricable link between planetary and human health is crucial. By prioritizing health within national climate strategies, investing in clean solutions, and ensuring equitable access to climate finance, we can protect our planet and ourselves, creating a future where the air is clean, communities thrive, and health flourishes in harmony with nature.

References:

1. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/climate-change/health-in-ndcs—a-who-review.pdf?sfvrsn=43b6b2c6_1
2. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs
3. https://www.who.int/news/item/08-11-2021-many-countries-are-prioritizing-health-and-climate-change-but-lack-funds-to-take-action
4. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-11-2023-health-needs-to-be-front-and-centre-of-national-plans-to-fight-climate-change
5. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/climate-change/9789240074729-v2.pdf?sfvrsn=f4c8b157_4
6. https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/long-term-climate-strategies-LTS-LTLEDS-climate-change
7. https://www.who.int/news/item/05-12-2018-health-benefits-far-outweigh-the-costs-of-meeting-climate-change-goals#:~:text=Only%20approximately%200.5%25%20of%20multilateral,profoundly%20affected%20by%20its%20impacts.

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