The impacts of the climate crisis are felt around the world as people lose their families, communities, lands and livelihoods. Every fraction of heating compounds this suffering, and the cost of inaction will finally be measured in human life. It is estimated that climate change could result in 14.5-15.6 million deaths between 2026 and 2050.
Countries are planning the threat that climate change poses to health, and finance – both national and international – must be careful to meet these needs. This white paper provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of levels and trends in self-reported climate and health financing – a critical baseline from which countries, funders, implementers and advocates can work to strengthen climate finance and health.
The key results:
- Increased investment: Financial commitments for climate and health increased tenfold from less than $1 billion in 2018 to $7.1 billion in 2022, from bilateral donors (US$4.8 billion), multilateral health funds (US$ 1.5 billion), multilateral development banks (US$ 0.6 billion). ), philanthropies (US$160 million), and multilateral climate funds (US$23 million).
- Challenges: This available finance does not reach those who need it most. Less than half of total funding flowed to low-income countries, and a significant portion of bilateral donor funding was in the form of loans rather than grants.
- Future outlook: In an era of polycrisis and growing fiscal constraints, all financial partners will play a key role in scaling up the necessary finance, with the greatest growth likely to come from multilateral development banks and multilateral funds for the climate and health.
- Recommendations: The report provides concrete actions that public, private and philanthropic donors can take to increase funding, improve access, and ensure that finance meets the needs of the most affected countries and communities.