Belem Health Action Plan Launched at COP30 – Explained

COP30 Latest News

• At COP30 in Belem, global philanthropies pledged $300 million and launched the Belem Health Action Plan to tackle the growing health impacts of climate change through integrated adaptation measures.

Introduction

• The intersection of climate change and public health took centre stage at the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, as global leaders, philanthropies, and health experts launched the Belem Health Action Plan (BHAP). 
• The plan aims to strengthen health systems to withstand the escalating effects of climate change.
• Accompanying this initiative, a coalition of more than 35 major philanthropic organisations, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and IKEA Foundation, announced a $300 million commitment under the Climate and Health Funders Coalition to address the dual crisis of climate and health.
• It is the first coordinated global effort to channel adaptation finance specifically towards climate-linked health outcomes, placing human well-being at the core of climate action.

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Background: The Health Cost of Climate Change

• Climate change has emerged as the gravest health threat of the 21st century, worsening air pollution, intensifying heatwaves, and driving the spread of infectious diseases. 
• The 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change has become a key reference for the initiative. According to the report:
  • Heat-related deaths have surged by 23% since the 1990s, now reaching 546,000 deaths annually.
  • Over 154,000 deaths were linked to wildfire smoke exposure in 2024 alone.
  • The global dengue transmission potential has risen by 49% since the 1950s.
• Experts warn that every country is now facing health impacts from climate change, with 3.3 billion people globally at heightened risk, especially those in low- and middle-income nations where health infrastructure remains fragile.

Launch of the Belem Health Action Plan

• The BHAP was launched by 80 countries and organisations at COP30, building on findings from the Lancet Countdown report. 
• It seeks to integrate climate adaptation with public health strategies, making health systems more resilient, equitable, and climate-ready.
• Core Focus Areas of the BHAP
  • Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems: Strengthening surveillance, early warning, and response systems to handle heatwaves, floods, vector-borne diseases, and air pollution.
  • Investing in Research and Innovation: Supporting research into climate-sensitive diseases and developing adaptive technologies for healthcare delivery.
  • Health Equity and Justice: Ensuring vulnerable communities, such as children, women, outdoor workers, and low-income groups, receive targeted support.
  • Capacity Building: Enhancing healthcare workforce training to manage climate-related emergencies.
  • Integrated Policy Frameworks: Aligning climate, health, and development policies across countries for coordinated action.
• The Plan also calls for “shifting funding and power to communities most affected by climate change,” ensuring that adaptation resources directly benefit those on the frontlines.

Philanthropic Commitment

• The Climate and Health Funders Coalition, comprising over 35 leading philanthropic entities, pledged an initial $300 million to implement the Belem Health Action Plan and accelerate climate-health solutions. The inaugural funding will focus on:
  • Extreme heat mitigation and development of early warning systems.
  • Reducing air pollution, particularly from urban and industrial emissions.
  • Combating climate-sensitive infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, and cholera.
  • Integrating climate and health data systems to enable better risk forecasting and resource allocation.

Addressing the Adaptation Finance Gap

• A recurring theme at COP30 was the severe adaptation finance gap. 
• According to the UN Adaptation Gap Report 2025, developing countries will require $310-365 billion annually by 2035 to adapt effectively to climate change. 
• Yet, current funding flows hover around $40 billion per year, far below what is needed.
• In India’s case, the 2023 National Communication to the UNFCCC estimated that the country will need $643 billion by 2030 to meet its adaptation goals. 
• India has already spent $146 billion in 2021-22, representing 5.6% of GDP, up from 3.7% in 2015-16, underscoring its commitment to climate adaptation.
• The BHAP and the accompanying philanthropic pledge are designed to narrow this gap, particularly by directing funds towards health-related adaptation, which has traditionally received limited attention.

Global Impact and Collaborative Framework

• The BHAP underscores the principle that “protecting the environment is protecting people’s health.” 
• It introduces a multi-sectoral approach where health ministries, climate departments, and global agencies collaborate to:
  • Mainstream health into climate policies.
  • Foster cross-country sharing of data and best practices.
  • Develop global standards for measuring health impacts of climate change.
• By prioritising health in climate discussions, COP30 has expanded the definition of climate adaptation, from protecting ecosystems to safeguarding human life and well-being.

Source: IE | DowntoEarth