Health and Climate Catalytic Fund New Climate Finance
At a time when the pace of climate change is accelerating and its effects on our planet are intensifying, there are renewed calls for concerted global efforts; To confront this challenge in the health sector and in other sectors, these are efforts that require more funding, which helps countries – especially developing countries – to re-prepare their economies to face all the repercussions ofclimate change in all their sectors.
Desiring to combat climate change and strengthen the health sector globally, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced the launch of the “Health and Climate Catalytic Fund” worth $50 million, with the participation of the Gates Foundation and Sanofi through its charitable foundation. According to the statement published by the Global Fund, initial funding of $40 million will be allocated from the Gates Foundation, and $10 million from Sanofi.
Regarding this fund – the Health and Climate Stimulus Fund – the Minister of Health of Malawi, Kempzi Kandudu Chibunda, appreciated this new global step, noting that her country has witnessed direct and severe impacts due to climate change, which affects the health sector negatively. Therefore, it saw that the new fund represents an important step towards improving health sectors around the world and increasing the ability to respond to emergencies.
In the same context, Sanofi CEO Paul Hodson pointed out the importance of cooperation between different sectors. To confront common challenges, stressing that allocating less than 5% of climate adaptation funding to health requires urgent interventions. In order to ensure that support reaches the countries most in need.
Stronger health systems
The establishment of this fund comes in order to provide urgent support to the communities most affected by climate change, by building resilient health systems capable of adapting to rapid climate changes, which impose serious health challenges that lead to the exacerbation of infectious diseases and the deterioration of air and water quality. Which threatens the lives of millions around the world.
The Health and Climate Catalytic Fund – in addition to the above – also seeks to empower these developing countries in particular, and help them green the health sectors through climate financing. Therefore, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Peter Sanders, stated that 71% of the new fund’s investments will go to more than 50 countries facing the greatest climate and health challenges.
Effective Partnerships
The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Biance Joannas – confirmed that the Global Fund has long experience in working with developing countries to strengthen health systems, noting the importance of cooperation with international partners, and benefiting from innovation and community participation. So that health systems can be built that are capable of facing the increasing climate challenges.
In conclusion, this new fund – the Health and Climate Catalytic Fund – bridges the gap between financing climate adaptation and health. Therefore,Earth Guards appreciates this global step, because it contributes to building a more sustainable future and provides a healthy life for all the peoples of the world.
