Global Philanthropies Pledge $300 Million To Address Climate-linked Health Risks
Philanthropic group backs Belém Health Action Plan to curb worsening health impacts of extreme heat, pollution and disease
More than 35 major philanthropic organisations have agreed to provide an initial $300 million to confront the growing health threats linked to climate change. The commitment, made by the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, was outlined at COP30 in Brazil.
The Coalition’s first funding effort supports the Belém Health Action Plan, a new framework that places public health at the centre of climate policy. The group includes Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance and Wellcome.
The first tranche of funding will be directed towards research, policy development and practical measures to address extreme heat, air pollution and climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Part of the investment will help strengthen health systems through improved climate and health data, with a view to protecting communities most exposed to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.
Scientists note that the past decade has been the warmest on record, with temperatures expected to remain close to current highs in the coming years. These conditions are already contributing to rising heat-related deaths, worsening air quality and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue. The burden falls most heavily on low- and middle-income countries.
According to the 2025 Lancet Countdown report, heat-related deaths have risen by nearly a quarter since the 1990s, while air pollution from wildfires caused an estimated 154,000 deaths in 2024. The global transmission potential of dengue has increased sharply since the mid-twentieth century.
Coalition members said the scale of the threat required more coordinated action. They highlighted the need for long-term investment, stronger surveillance systems and greater support for communities facing the sharpest impacts.
The Belém Health Action Plan sets out steps to build climate-resilient health systems, including improved monitoring of climate-linked risks, wider use of proven interventions and investment in research and infrastructure for vulnerable regions.
Leaders from participating foundations said the initiative aimed to combine resources and expertise to reduce emissions, reinforce health services and help communities adapt to escalating risks.
