$300 Million Pledged at COP30 to Address Health Impacts of Climate Change

Context:

• At COP30 held in Belém, Brazil, countries and global organizations highlighted the growing health crisis caused by climate change.

• Recognising severe gaps in adaptation finance, especially for health systems, a major funding commitment was announced to strengthen climate-resilient healthcare globally.

Key Highlights:

International Initiative / Agreement Insights

• Launch of the Belém Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation.

• Supported by nearly 80 countries and international organizations.

• Anchored on scientific evidence from the 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.

Funding Commitments

• Climate and Health Funders Coalition (≈ 35 philanthropic organizations) pledged an initial $300 million.

• Funds targeted towards:

  • Addressing root causes of climate-related health risks

  • Strengthening health adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions

Health–Climate Linkages Highlighted

• Rising deaths due to:

  • Extreme heat waves

  • Wildfire smoke exposure

• Increased disease burden from:

  • Extreme weather events

  • Desertification and water stress

Adaptation Finance Gap

• Developing countries require $310–365 billion annually by 2035 for adaptation.

• Global community struggling to mobilise even $40 billion annually, far below commitments.

India-Specific Data

• India’s 2023 National Communication to UNFCCC estimates:

  • $643 billion needed by 2030 for climate adaptation

  • $146 billion spent in 2021–22 on adaptation-related actions

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: Escalating health impacts of climate change due to inadequate adaptation measures.

• Causes:

  • Rising global temperatures

  • Increased frequency of extreme climatic events

  • Underfunded public health systems in developing countries

• Global Initiatives:

  • Belém Action Plan

  • Climate and Health Funders Coalition

  • UNFCCC framework

• Benefits of the Initiative:

  • Strengthened climate-resilient health systems

  • Reduced mortality and morbidity from climate-related hazards

• Challenges:

  • Persistent adaptation finance gap

  • Limited access to funds for health-specific adaptation

• Impact:

  • Improved preparedness of vulnerable nations

  • Greater integration of health in climate policy

Relevant Mains Points:

• Key Concepts & Definitions:

  • Climate Adaptation: Adjustments in systems to reduce harm from climate impacts

  • UNFCCC: Global treaty guiding climate mitigation and adaptation efforts

  • Adaptation Finance Gap: Shortfall between required and available funds

• International Relations Dimension:

  • Highlights inequity between developed and developing nations

  • Reinforces principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)

• Governance & Economy Aspects:

  • Need for mainstreaming health in national climate action plans

  • Long-term economic costs of inaction on climate-health linkages

• Way Forward:

  • Scale up predictable and grant-based adaptation finance

  • Prioritise health in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

  • Strengthen global monitoring through scientific assessments like Lancet Countdown

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: International Relations, Global Governance

• GS 3: Environment, Climate Change, Economy, Health Infrastructure

• Prelims: COP, UNFCCC, Climate Adaptation, Adaptation Finance