Archive · 8 Nov 2025
Less Than 1% of Climate Funding Addresses Health Needs, Report Finds
Imagine the planet is getting sick because of things like too much heat and weird weather, which makes people sick too.
We have a big fund to help fix the planet, but most of that money goes to things like planting trees or building sea walls.
A new report says that only a tiny, tiny bit of that money, less than one penny out of every dollar, has been used to help hospitals and doctors get ready for when people get sick from this changing weather.
This is a problem because many more people might get sick and even die if we don't prepare our health systems.
Countries that are already struggling need more help, especially in places like South Asia, but they aren't getting enough money.
The report wants leaders to give more money, especially as grants, to help protect people's health from climate change before it's too late.
Less than 1% of multilateral climate funding, totaling $173 million since 2004, has been allocated to adapting health systems to climate change.
Climate change is projected to cause up to 15.6 million deaths by 2050 due to factors like extreme heat and infectious diseases.
Despite 87% of National Adaptation Plans including health priorities, multilateral climate funds have covered less than 0.1% of identified health adaptation needs.
The distribution of health adaptation funds is highly uneven, with South Asia receiving none for country-specific projects.
A call to action urges improved access to grant-based international finance and direct channeling of funds to country-defined health adaptation priorities.
- Who
- Adelphi (think tank), climate change negotiators, developing nations, global health experts
- What
- A report reveals that less than 1% of global climate funding has been allocated to adapting health systems to climate change.
- When
- Since 2004, with urgency building towards COP30 in November.
- Where
- Globally, with specific focus on South Asia, East Asia & Pacific, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Why
- To highlight the severe underinvestment in health adaptation despite the growing health impacts of climate change and the inclusion of health in National Adaptation Plans.
- Funding Allocated to Health Systems
- 0.5% of multilateral climate funding since 2004
- Total Amount Allocated to Health Systems
- $173 million since 2004
- Projected Deaths from Climate Change by 2050
- Up to 15.6 million
- Health Priorities in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
- 87%
- Multilateral Climate Funds Covering NAP Health Needs
- Less than 0.1%
- Geographic Distribution of Health Funds
- 66.7% East Asia & Pacific, 25% Sub-Saharan Africa, 0% South Asia
- Funds Reaching Fragile/Conflict-Affected Areas
- 4%