Human health at the centre of climate actionHuman health at the centre of climate action

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February 19, 2024

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COP28 was a watershed moment for climate and health, mobilising more than 100 countries, finance institutions and high-level leaders last year. The first-ever Health Day at a COP conference stressed that climate change is the greatest threat to human lives, health, livelihoods, and well-being in the 21st century and amplifies peace and security issues. Responding to the needs created by climate change in many contexts is already beyond the means of national and international humanitarian actors, threatening to overwhelm health workforces and infrastructure with health-related costs estimated at US$2 billion to US$4 billion annually by 2030.

Climate risks are concentrated among the most underprivileged communities, many of whom are under-resourced in terms of resilience building and adaptation, undermining growth and stability. At the Health and Relief, Recovery & Peace Day, Parties and Non-State Actors, held on December 3, 2023, key issues and the solutions that will protect those impacted by climate change and humanitarian and health challenges were highlighted.

The Health Day focused on five key topics:

Showcasing evidence base and clear impact pathways between climate change and human health.
Promoting “health arguments for climate action” and health co-benefits of mitigation.
Highlighting needs, barriers and best practices for strengthening the climate resilience of health systems.
Identifying and scaling adaptation measures to address the impacts of climate change on human health (including through One Health).
Taking action at the nexus of health and relief, recovery and peace.

Global solidarity

Building on the World Climate Action Summit launch of the “UAE Declaration on Climate and Health”, the day saw the first-ever Climate-Health Ministerial. Over 110 health ministries, including 49 Ministers of Health, shared experiences and best practices. They built convergence on shared priorities and a path forward to overcome existing barriers to mainstream health in the climate discourse. Progress check will take place at next year’s World Health Organization (WHO) General Assembly.

At the ‘Reaching the Last Mile Forum’ (RLMF), US$777 million was pledged to accelerate progress against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including US$100 million announced by the UAE, as well as contributions by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Belgium, and the US, among others. The funds will help control, eliminate, and eradicate NTDs in a landmark push to accelerate progress towards achieving the goals outlined in the World Health Organization’s 2030 roadmap on NTDs.

Uniting efforts with NTD-endemic countries, donors answered the urgent call to step up the fight against NTDs in the face of climate change and to work together to improve the lives of the 1.6 billion people worldwide affected by these devastating yet preventable diseases.

On the day, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE, was joined by world leaders, including H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; and HE Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated: “The UAE is proud to host this pivotal conference and expresses gratitude to all who have seized the opportunity to renew their commitment to end neglected tropical diseases. Today’s demonstration of global solidarity reflects a shared determination to deliver a better and more dignified future for all. Incredible progress over the last two decades has proved that a world free of NTDs is achievable. We warmly thank governments, donors, and partners for standing with us as we strive to achieve it.”

Reaching the Last Mile joined with the Gates Foundation and global partners to announce a milestone expansion of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF) from US$100m to US$500m. The expansion will increase the reach of the fund from seven countries to 39 across Africa, with the goal of eliminating two NTDs, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness).

Over five years, the RLMF has provided over 100 million treatments, trained 1.3 million health workers, and established nine laboratories to support NTD surveillance and testing. The fund also played a critical role in interrupting the transmission of river blindness in Niger, an achievement once thought to be scientifically impossible in Africa and has supported Senegal in nearing this milestone.

Furthermore, the “Charter on Finance for Managing Risk: Getting Ahead of Disasters”, championed by the UK Government and the IFRC’s Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), was signed by 39 countries and partner agencies, coordinated by Samoa and the UK, with UAE support. Signatories, the Green Climate Fund, and Plan International, among others, outlined a vision to facilitate pre-arranged finance and defined a set of key principles to act ahead of disasters, advance adaptation efforts, and improve delivery systems to mitigate risks and protect the most vulnerable. Additionally, US$221 million was pledged to disaster preparedness, risk insurance, and anticipatory action through contributions from the UK, Norway, France and the European Union.

The COP28 Health Day also saw the launch of ‘Climate-Health Solution Space’. It provided a comprehensive view of the solution landscape, showcasing 20 to 30 proposals to inspire action on climate-health interventions, building on the finance principles outlined by finance leaders.