Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation launched: $300 mn committed for health impacts of climate at COP30 – The Indian Express

Report on the Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation

Introduction and Key Initiatives

A global coalition of approximately 80 countries and organizations convened at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, to launch the Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation. The primary objective of this initiative is to strengthen the resilience of global health systems against the escalating impacts of climate change. This plan directly addresses the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those concerning global health and climate resilience.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Belem Action Plan and associated funding commitments are fundamentally aligned with several key SDGs:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The core mission is to enhance the capacity of health systems (Target 3.d) to cope with climate-related health risks, including heat-related mortality and respiratory illnesses, thereby safeguarding population health.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The initiative is a direct implementation of climate adaptation strategies (Target 13.1), integrating health considerations into national climate policies to build resilience against climate-related hazards.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between governments, international organizations, and a coalition of 35 philanthropies exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.16) to mobilize financial resources and expertise for sustainable development.

Financial Commitments and Existing Gaps

Financial mobilization is a critical component of the plan, yet significant disparities between needs and available funds persist.

1. New Funding Pledges: The Climate and Health Funders Coalition announced an initial commitment of US $300 million. This capital is intended to support the Belem Action Plan and fund integrated solutions that address both the causes of climate change and its consequences on human health, contributing to SDG Target 17.3.
2. The Adaptation Finance Gap: Discussions highlighted a critical finance gap for adaptation, with an even more acute shortfall for health-focused adaptation plans.
3. Projected Needs vs. Reality: The Adaptation Gap Report estimates that developing nations require US $310-365 billion annually by 2035. This contrasts sharply with the struggle to mobilize the US $40 billion annual flow promised in 2021, revealing a major obstacle to achieving SDG Target 13.a.

Health Impacts and Supporting Evidence

The urgency of the Belem Action Plan is underscored by evidence from the 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change, which serves as its scientific basis.

• The report documents that climate change-related deaths are in the millions, with millions more affected by extreme weather events.
• Current health systems are reported to be underfunded and unprepared for the growing pressures.
• Specific annual mortality statistics cited include:
  • Over 500,000 deaths attributed to heat.
  • Over 150,000 deaths linked to wildfire smoke exposure.

Case Study: India’s Adaptation Efforts

India’s national efforts provide a salient example of the scale of financial resources required for climate adaptation.

• According to its 2023 national communication to the UNFCCC, India will require an estimated $643 billion between now and 2030 to adapt to climate change.
• The country has demonstrated a significant commitment to this goal, spending $146 billion in 2021-2022 alone.
• This expenditure represents 5.6% of the nation’s GDP, a notable increase from 3.7% in 2015-2016, reflecting a robust national strategy to advance SDG 13.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme is the impact of climate change on human health. It explicitly mentions that “more than half a million lives are lost due to heat” and “over 150,000 deaths are linked to wildfire smoke exposure.” The launch of the “Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation” directly aims to strengthen health systems, which is a core component of SDG 3.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The entire discussion is framed within the context of climate change adaptation. The article highlights the “acute finance gap for adaptation,” the need for countries to adapt to climate change, and the launch of an action plan at COP30. It discusses strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards like extreme heat, flooding, and storms, which is the primary focus of SDG 13.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article demonstrates the importance of collaboration. It states that “80 countries and organisations came together… to launch the Belem Action Plan.” Furthermore, it mentions a “Climate and Health Funders Coalition” of “35 philanthropies” committing funds. These actions exemplify the multi-stakeholder partnerships required to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article’s focus on the “Belem Action Plan for Health and Climate Adaptation” is aimed at “strengthening global health systems to cope better with impacts of climate change,” which directly aligns with this target. The statement that health systems are “stretched and underfunded” underscores the need for this capacity strengthening.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article details the health consequences of climate hazards like “extreme heat, extreme rainfall and flooding, ever more vicious storms and creeping desertification.” The entire adaptation discussion, including India’s required spending of “$643 billion between now and 2030 to adapt,” is about building resilience to these hazards.
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties… to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually… to address the needs of developing countries. The article directly addresses this by highlighting the “acute finance gap for adaptation” and noting that the “international community is struggling to mobilise the US $40 billion annual flows that was promised in Glasgow in 2021,” which is a key component of international climate finance commitments.
3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources. The announcement of an “initial commitment of US $300 million” from a coalition of “35 philanthropies” is a clear example of mobilizing financial resources from non-governmental sources to support developing countries.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The collaboration of “80 countries and organisations” at COP30 to launch a joint action plan is a direct manifestation of this target, showcasing a partnership to mobilize knowledge and financial resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Mortality Rate Attributed to Environmental Factors:
   • The article provides specific data points that can serve as indicators of health impacts from climate-related hazards. It states, “more than half a million lives are lost due to heat, and over 150,000 deaths are linked to wildfire smoke exposure.” These figures are direct measures of mortality linked to environmental conditions, which can be used to track the severity of the problem and the effectiveness of adaptation measures.
2. Amount of Financial Flows for Climate Adaptation:
   • The article heavily implies the use of financial flows as a key indicator. It mentions the estimated need for developing countries (“US $310-365 billion a year”), the struggle to mobilize promised funds (“US $40 billion annual flows”), and commitments from philanthropies (“US $300 million”). These figures are used to measure the “adaptation finance gap.”
3. National Expenditure on Climate Adaptation:
   • A direct indicator is mentioned for a specific country. The article notes that India spent “$146 billion in 2021-2022 alone, the equivalent of 5.6% of GDP” on adaptation. This type of national-level data (total expenditure and as a percentage of GDP) is a crucial indicator for measuring a country’s commitment and progress on climate adaptation.
4. Number of Countries and Stakeholders in Partnerships:
   • The article implies this as an indicator of successful collaboration. It mentions “80 countries and organisations” for the Belem Action Plan and “35 philanthropies” in the funding coalition. These numbers quantify the scale of multi-stakeholder engagement, which is a measure of progress towards partnership goals.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: indianexpress.com