29
Jan

The close interdependence between human health and natural ecosystems demands an adaptive, transdisciplinary, and systems-based approach to address the complex challenges posed by climate change. The global community is building the policy and financing ecosystem to support countries with adequate and coordinated policies and programmes. In December 2023, 148 countries endorsed the Declaration on Climate and Health, committing to address the health impacts of climate change and calling for rapid, sustained emission reductions to protect human health. At the World Health Assembly in May 2024, 192 Member States adopted a Resolution on Climate Change and Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) made climate change and health one of the six strategic objectives for its General Programme of World 2025-2028. While over 90 per cent of countries include health priorities in their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, only 0.5 per cent of multilateral climate funding is allocated to projects that explicitly aim to protect or improve human health – and most global health funders have not integrated action to address climate change into their investments.

Considerable work has been done to start to outline country priorities and required financing. There are discussions underway between partners about the appropriate financing mechanism, and what complementary resources required. This meeting will provide a space for partners and donors to discuss the current state of financing for the climate and health nexus, and what immediate steps are required towards a longer-term financing strategy in Asia and Pacific.