Over 35 leading philanthropies have come together to address the growing public health crisis driven by climate change, which threatens at least 3.3 billion people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The Climate and Health Funders Coalition has committed an initial $300 million to accelerate solutions that tackle both the causes of climate change and its health consequences. This inaugural funding effort, announced at COP30 in Brazil, supports the implementation of the Belém Health Action Plan, which prioritizes human health at the centre of global climate action.
The Coalition includes major funders such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Gates Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance, and Wellcome. The immediate focus for the first $300 million will be on solutions, innovations, policies, and research addressing extreme heat, air pollution, and climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Funding will also strengthen the integration of critical climate and health data to support resilient health systems that protect lives and livelihoods.
Experts highlight the urgency of action, noting that the past decade has been the warmest on record, with temperatures expected to remain near record levels over the next five years. Rising temperatures contribute to deadly heatwaves, worsening air pollution, malnutrition, threats to maternal and newborn health, and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue. Extreme weather also disrupts food and water supplies, strains health systems, and disproportionately affects marginalized communities, deepening existing health inequities. Without urgent intervention, greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts will continue to endanger global health and access to care.
The 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change highlights alarming trends: heat-related deaths have increased 23% since the 1990s, reaching 546,000 per year; air pollution from wildfire smoke caused a record 154,000 deaths in 2024; and the transmission potential of dengue has risen up to 49% since the 1950s. Leaders from Wellcome Trust, Rockefeller Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Gates Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and Philanthropy Asia Alliance emphasized that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and called for rapid, collaborative action to save lives and strengthen resilience.
To tackle the escalating crisis, the Coalition is aligning and expanding funding to address urgent climate and health challenges, using robust data to design and scale solutions, and shifting funding and decision-making power to communities most affected by climate change. The $300 million investment will support the Belém Health Action Plan, which aims to build climate-resilient health systems, prioritize equity, and ensure vulnerable populations are protected. The plan focuses on enhancing health surveillance systems, implementing evidence-based policies, building capacity, and investing in research, technology, and infrastructure to safeguard the most at-risk populations.
The initiative represents a landmark collaboration between philanthropy and global health leaders, demonstrating how aligned priorities and pooled resources can accelerate innovation, empower communities, and improve health outcomes in the face of the climate emergency. By integrating climate action with public health strategies, the Climate and Health Funders Coalition seeks to protect lives, strengthen health systems, and build resilience for communities worldwide.
The participating organizations—Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Gates Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance, and Wellcome—bring expertise across public health, climate solutions, equity, and philanthropy. Their combined efforts aim to create scalable, evidence-based interventions that mitigate climate risks, protect vulnerable populations, and advance sustainable health and environmental outcomes globally.
