Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest global health emergencies of the century, threatening the well-being of populations across all regions. Its impacts are widespread, affecting every community, though the most severe consequences fall on vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, marginalized communities, displaced persons, and people with pre-existing health conditions or living in poverty. As climate conditions worsen, disease burdens are shifting — with increasing cases of heat-related illnesses, changing infectious disease patterns, rising maternal and child health risks, and greater exposure to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and wildfires.
The crisis is also straining health systems worldwide. As demand for medical services grows, climate-induced challenges are simultaneously undermining health infrastructure and resources. The effects extend to basic needs, including access to food, clean water, sanitation, and air quality. According to new World Bank data, low- and middle-income countries could face excess health costs of at least US$21 trillion by 2050 due to climate change. Moreover, rising health impacts are expected to deepen poverty, with an estimated 132 million people — over half in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia — projected to be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030.
As both the largest climate financier and a leading health sector investor, the World Bank is intensifying its support to address the intersection of health and climate change. Through its Climate and Health Program, the Bank is integrating climate resilience into its $30 billion health portfolio across more than 100 countries. It aims to strengthen health systems to better predict and respond to climate risks, build climate-informed surveillance and early-warning systems, train health workers in climate-health competencies, and ensure healthcare infrastructure is resilient and low-carbon. The World Bank is also supporting a transition to sustainable, low-emission healthcare through renewable energy use and green technologies, while addressing root causes through cross-sectoral initiatives in One Health, water and sanitation, and energy efficiency.
Across more than 100 countries, nearly 60 percent of the Bank’s climate-health investments have focused on adaptation measures such as nutrition programs, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness. In Indonesia, a $4 billion partnership with multiple development banks supports energy-efficient medical facilities and telemedicine, benefiting over 273 million people. In Sierra Leone, the Bank is funding climate-smart health facility construction and solarization, improving essential health service access for a third of the population. In Nigeria, a sector-wide initiative is integrating climate resilience into national health reforms, expanding solar infrastructure, and improving access to quality health services for 40 million people. These efforts exemplify how climate action and health system strengthening can work together to protect lives and build sustainable resilience worldwide.
