Climate, Environment and Health
Climate change and environmental degradation have serious consequences for human health and well-being, as well as countries’ economic development. The poorest countries, with weak health systems, are particularly vulnerable. Norway will therefore contribute to climate-resilient and sustainable health systems in developing countries and to preventing negative health effects through collaboration across sectors (OneHealth).
What
Climate change and extreme weather such as heat, heavy rainfall and storms affect human health and well-being worldwide. Extreme heat, flooding, droughts and forest fires cost lives and lead to direct damage, while also increasing and changing the burden of disease. This applies to both infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as mental health. Food production, access to safe drinking water and air quality, which all have an impact on health, are also affected. The World Health Organization estimates that around 250,000 people will die prematurely as a result of malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heatwaves alone each year between 2030 and 2050. More people are being displaced and losing access to fundamental health services such as vaccines and pregnancy care, birth assistance and necessary medicines.
Temperature and precipitation changes lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue in new areas. Flooding increases the risk of cholera outbreaks and other water-borne diseases. Human pressure on nature increases the risk of zoonosis (infections passed between animals and humans) and new infectious diseases.
Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, asthma and pulmonary diseases, as well as mental health, are also exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather.
The global health sector also contributes to nearly 5 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions and also environmental degradation through inadequate waste management.
Why
This is a particular challenge in poor countries with weak health systems and reverses some of the progress achieved in relation to the SDGs. The World Bank estimates that the negative health impact of climate change could push 44 million people into poverty by 2030. More than half of these people will live in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. This is despite the fact that the poorest countries have contributed very little to emissions and climate change.
These challenges often come in addition to other crises such as war and conflict and, for many countries, debt crises. There is a huge funding deficit for the required development and adaptation of health systems and society in general in order to safeguard local populations in the face of climate change.
How
Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the annual climate conferences have gradually increased knowledge of the relationship between climate, environment and health. During COP 26, the countries committed to developing and adopting national adaptation plans and the first Health Day was held during COP 28 in 2023. The ATACH Alliance brings together over 80 countries and many more organisations looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop climate-resilient and sustainable health systems. Norway actively participates in the ATACH working groups.
Alliance for action on climate change and health (ATACH) (who.int)
COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health
AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 (ipcc.ch)
The World Health Organization has been working on climate, environment and health for decades, including with support from Norway. The World Bank, which receives core funding from Norway, also increasingly targets its work in this field. In order to increase funding for climate adaptation measures in the health sector, Norway has supported the global principles for such funding, which will contribute to private, public, voluntary and multilateral partners all working towards a common goal.
Health and Climate Change (worldbank.org)
The work to understand, combat and adapt to the health impact of climate change must be included in all efforts to improve health. Norway prioritises contributing to strong, climate-resilient health systems that can provide universal health care and adequate primary health services for the population in developing countries. This is considered the best defence against the health impact of climate change and environmental degradation. It is also essential to collaborate beyond the health sector on all factors that affect climate change and have an impact on health.
Norway cooperates with Norwegian institutions to strengthen health systems and this increasingly entails working on climate, environment and health. The HISP Centre at the University of Oslo contributes improved health information systems and digital infrastructure to around 80 low and middle income countries. For many countries, this also entails linking climate and health data to ensure better surveillance, early warning and health preparedness. The University of Bergen and the Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting in Health (BCEPS) receive funding for their work on prioritisation and ethics with the health authorities in several developing countries. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is a key partner in the work to develop public health functions in a number of developing countries.
Norway also supports the Global Fund, Gavi and GFF in their work, which increasingly incorporates climate and health. Unitaid has put the spotlight on how health products contribute to carbon emissions during production, transport and waste. Unitaid has also launched plans to contribute to the production of climate-smart health products. International civil society organisations also work on this topic to varying degrees, some very actively while others are under development.
Contact
Department for Human Development