As global temperatures rise, communities around the world are facing health risks from extreme heat and storms, shifting disease patterns, and potentially catastrophic effects of climate change on food and water security. As a result, climate change has been heralded as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century and health sector leaders are beginning to think about what they can do to minimize the health impacts of climate change. However, in many countries, the health sector does not have the information and tools it needs to effectively respond to these new challenges.
In partnership with the Glaser Progress Foundation, the Evidence to Policy Initiative (E2Pi) is focused on mobilizing a stronger international response to climate change by engaging global health leaders as advocates for climate solutions, supporting the health sector to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change today, and building climate resilient health systems that can stand up to the challenges of the future. E2Pi works in partnership with ministries of health and finance, civil society organizations, local research institutions, the World Health Organization, and development finance institutions to conduct original analyses, convene climate and health leaders, and translate rigorous evidence on the health impacts of climate change into climate-smart policy.
E2Pi envisions the health sector as a leading voice in the fight against climate change, where information on the health consequences of climate change is integrated into policy decision-making at the national and global level, and where changing climate does not impede international progress on health.
Financing for climate change and health
Responding to the growing health impacts of climate change will require urgent attention by the global community to advance rapid action in both the climate and health sectors. Yet current progress towards implementing effective solutions fall far short of the scale of the challenge. A main barrier to action is the lack of funding for activities at the intersection of climate change and health.
In this project, we are working with partners in the Philippines and Europe to lead research and programs seeking to understand the barriers to greater investment in climate and health, and build solutions for mobilizing financing for climate and health solutions.
Read our latest report: Improving investments in climate change and global health: Barriers to and opportunities for synergistic funding