COP28 centres public health in global warming debate for first time

Hurricanes, floods and disease

And it has already started — in Libya after Hurricane Daniel in September 2023 and in Pakistan after the August 2022 floods. In both cases, women, children, and the elderly were the most affected.

Certain diseases are often transmitted through water after floods, including typhoid, hepatitis A, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and cholera. In cases of drought, the amount of water available for people decreases, and its quality is affected.

On the sidelines of COP28, Jenny Miller, the executive director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA), told Al Majalla: "Our healthcare systems are already affected by climate change, and we also notice patients suffering from the new impacts of climate change."

Payback

On the first day of COP28, the Loss and Damage Fund for countries hit by climate change was officially established. Several countries contributed money to the fund upon its launch: The United Arab Emirates pledged $100mn, Germany $100mn, the rest of the European Union $145.7mn, the United Kingdom $76mn, the United States $17.5mn, and Japan $10mn.

But the fund has further to go before it can pay out. Kirsten Hagon, a climate policy expert at the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told Al Majalla: "It's crucial to clarify that the fund's establishment doesn't imply immediate accessibility to funding. Rather, it needs preparation for its launch, and we hope that this will happen quickly."

The primary question is whether the health sector will benefit from this funding. Hagon explained that the funds contribute to the construction of hospitals and schools in the event of natural disasters, including in Libya recently, and to build robust infrastructure to reduce losses and damages caused by floods.

She added: "I think it would be great if the funding were directed to a country like Pakistan, building healthcare systems, making them more resilient. This way, health centres would be better equipped to deal with future disasters such as floods, heatwaves, or hurricanes."

Jess Beagley, policy lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, went into more detail, telling Al Majalla:  "The Loss and Damage Fund addresses all economic and non-economic losses and damages, both rapid and slow."

"While losses and damages in the health sector are non-economic, it does not mean that they do not have serious financial implications, whether in terms of healthcare costs or material losses, as well as work productivity. Some data from the Lancet Countdown show the economic evidence of productivity loss due to heat stress."

Funding outlook

GCHA's Miller pointed out that "healthcare facilities themselves are often affected by floods, wildfires, smoke, heat, and the like," adding: "It is really important to invest in making our healthcare systems more resilient, invest in training healthcare specialists and health workers to be prepared for climate change, understand the impacts of climate change, and be able to participate in ensuring the resilience and adaptation of healthcare facilities as much as possible."

On Health Day, the "COP28 UAE Climate and Health Declaration" was issued and signed by more than 120 parties, acknowledging the numerous health impacts of climate change. This declaration comes after 9mn annual deaths due to air pollution and the exposure of nearly 190mn people worldwide to extreme climate events.

The declaration includes a pledge from Foundation S to provide $42mn annually until 2030 to support climate adaptation solutions. Funds will go to organisations and innovators to devise more sustainable solutions. The Rockefeller Foundation also announced a commitment of $100mn to enhance climate and health solutions.

In addition, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria announced the provision of funding amounting to $500mn to support low- and middle-income countries in addressing the health impacts of climate change between 2024 and 2026. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation allocated $57.95mn for climate and health.

The Asian Development Bank launched a new initiative focused on climate and health, earmarking an initial $7bn in financing. The Wellcome Trust will spend around £100mn next year to support research on understanding and addressing the health crisis of climate change.

Evidence Action also launched a $55mn fund to provide safe drinking water to tens of millions of people, enhance climate adaptation capacity, and improve children's health.

The importance of adaptation

Preparation can help mitigate the impact of disasters related to climate change. This is especially true in areas where flood protection is difficult. The implementation of different adaptation measures can minimise losses.

Dr. Wael Al-Delaimy, the chairman of the GeoHealth Hub for Climate Change and Health in the Middle East and North Africa, told Al Majalla: "Adapting to events such as floods can be achieved by anticipating their occurrence through flood maps and developing emergency plans for them."

Also, Al-Delaimy, a professor of public health at the University of California, San Diego, emphasised that developing an adaptation plan for the health sector should not affect the provision of services to patients.

GCHA's Miller pointed to the wider implications of COP28's new awareness of health-related policies: "I think the transition to clean energy is an important contributor to public health. It also involves making buildings more energy-efficient and developing cities to better adapt to climate change."

"Making cities more suitable for walking and reducing emissions in urban areas has many benefits for mental and physical health".

Just as the health sector is affected by climate change, it also has its impact, contributing to 5% of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Al-Delaimy, these emissions can be reduced by adopting environmentally friendly approaches in building hospitals and transitioning to renewable energy.