Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation

At the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, world leaders, health experts, and philanthropies unveiled the Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation – a landmark initiative that puts human health at the heart of climate adaptation efforts.

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At the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, world leaders, health experts, and philanthropies unveiled the Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation – a landmark initiative that puts human health at the heart of climate adaptation efforts. Backed by an initial $300 million commitment from 35 global philanthropies, the plan aims to close the critical funding gap that leaves millions vulnerable to climate-driven diseases, extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding.

What is the Belem Action Plan on Health and Climate Adaptation?

Launched by nearly 80 countries and organizations in partnership with the Global Climate and Health Alliance and Carbon Copy, the Belem Action Plan is the first major COP outcome dedicated exclusively to strengthening health systems against climate threats.

The plan is directly informed by the 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, which revealed alarming statistics:

Over 500,000 deaths annually from extreme heat
More than 150,000 deaths linked to wildfire smoke exposure
Millions of additional climate-related deaths from flooding, storms, drought, and vector-borne diseases

“Health systems are already stretched and underfunded. Most remain unprepared for the escalating impacts we are seeing,” warned Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London.

$300 Million Philanthropic Pledge: A New Climate-Health Funding Model

In a parallel announcement, the Climate and Health Funders Coalition – comprising 35 leading philanthropies – pledged an initial US $300 million to support integrated climate and health solutions, with a significant portion earmarked to implement the Belem Action Plan.

This funding will prioritize:

Early-warning systems for heatwaves and disease outbreaks
Climate-resilient hospitals and primary healthcare infrastructure
Training healthcare workers for climate-related emergencies
Research and deployment of health-focused adaptation technologies

The coalition emphasized that this is just the beginning – with plans to mobilize billions more in the coming years.

The Massive Adaptation Finance Gap – Especially for Health

Despite growing recognition, health remains one of the most underfunded sectors in climate adaptation.

The UN’s latest Adaptation Gap Report estimates that developing countries will need $310–365 billion per year by 2035 just to adapt – yet current international flows barely reach $40 billion annually, far below the Glasgow 2021 pledge.

Even within adaptation finance, health receives less than 2% of total funding, according to experts at the Belém event.

India’s Adaptation Challenge: $643 Billion Needed by 2030

India highlighted its massive adaptation requirements during the discussions. According to the country’s 2023 national communication to the UNFCCC:

India requires $643 billion between now and 2030 for climate adaptation under a business-as-usual scenario
In 2021–2022 alone, India invested $146 billion (5.6% of GDP) – a significant increase from 3.7% in 2015–2016

Dr Vishwas Chitale, Fellow at the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and UN Research Fellow, stressed that while India is scaling domestic spending rapidly, international support remains critical for the most vulnerable communities.

Why Health Must Be Central to Climate Action

Climate change is no longer just an environmental crisis – it is now the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.

From dengue and malaria spreading to new regions, to mental health crises triggered by climate disasters, to malnutrition driven by crop failures – the health impacts are already overwhelming systems in low- and middle-income countries.

The Belem Action Plan signals a turning point: for the first time, health and climate communities are aligning strategies, funding, and political will.

What Happens Next?

The $300 million philanthropic injection provides immediate momentum, but experts agree that trillions, not billions, will be needed by 2030 to fully protect global health from climate impacts.

Negotiators at COP30 are now under pressure to:

Triple adaptation finance to at least $100 billion annually (as promised)
Create a dedicated “Health and Climate” window under the new post-2025 finance goal
Ensure at least 15–20% of all adaptation funding targets health systems

As indigenous communities symbolically blocked entrances at the Belém summit venue – demanding justice and real action – the launch of the Belem Action Plan offered a rare moment of hope amid growing frustration.

For the millions already losing lives and livelihoods to the climate crisis, the message from COP30 is clear: health can no longer be an afterthought in climate talks.

Key Takeaways – Belem Action Plan at COP30

First-ever global action plan linking health systems and climate adaptation
$300 million initial commitment from 35 philanthropies
Backed by the 2025 Lancet Countdown findings on millions of climate-related deaths
Highlights massive adaptation finance shortfall, especially for health
India needs $643 billion by 2030; already spending 5.6% of GDP domestically

The world has finally recognized that you cannot fight climate change without protecting human health. Now, the real test begins: turning pledges into action before it’s too late.