You Won't Believe Which Major Organization Just Joined the Green Climate Fund – The Shocking Impact on Our Planet!

The World Health Organization (WHO) has achieved a significant milestone by receiving accreditation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a financial mechanism established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This accreditation is expected to unlock new financial resources aimed at safeguarding communities globally against the health repercussions of climate change.

"Climate and health action saves lives," emphasized Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of the department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration at WHO. He further noted that climate financing would ensure that the health sector is well-prepared to address the escalating demands of the climate crisis without exacerbating emissions. This landmark decision comes after extensive preparations and high-level discussions between Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, and Mr. Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the GCF.

Strengthening Public Health through Climate Action

With over 25 years of expertise in climate and health policy, and more than 15 years of executing climate health programs in over 30 countries, WHO is positioned as a crucial collaborator in tackling global climate and health challenges. The synergy between WHO and GCF is expected to facilitate direct climate and health programs while also developing health-promoting interventions at various country levels by leveraging a network of health ministries and key partners.

To support these initiatives, WHO will assist in creating technical partnerships, offering implementation toolkits, and coordinating peer reviews and monitoring processes to guarantee quality and scalability. Notably, the WHO-hosted Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), launched in 2022, will play a vital role in identifying co-financing opportunities for potential investments facilitated by GCF, through its extensive network of over 200 country and partner members.

The advancements in global climate-health action have been noteworthy, especially since WHO’s application to the GCF in 2015. Climate change has been made a priority objective in WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14) for 2025-2028. Furthermore, a Resolution focusing on Climate Change and Health was adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024. Health has also garnered attention in recent UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs), marked by dedicated Health Days and the endorsement of the Belém Health Action Plan at COP30 in Brazil.

“Climate financing is crucial to tackling the climate-health crisis,” stated Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head of Climate Change, Air Quality, Energy, and Health at WHO. He reiterated that WHO aims to ensure that low- and middle-income countries access the necessary resources to develop climate-resilient and sustainable low-carbon health systems.

Bridging Climate and Health Initiatives

The adverse effects of climate change on health have been widely acknowledged, with an increasing recognition of its implications within the international community. Health is identified as a priority in 91% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—the national climate action plans submitted under the Paris Agreement. However, only a fraction of these plans explicitly outlines actions intended to enhance health benefits through climate adaptation or mitigation strategies.

Alarmingly, estimates reveal that merely 2% of adaptation funding and only 0.5% of multilateral climate funding is allocated to health, which highlights a substantial unmet demand in this sector. Addressing these gaps, WHO is intent on empowering national health ministries to cultivate climate-resilient health systems, reduce emissions, and promote climate-health action across different sectors.

The accreditation of WHO by the GCF signals a paradigm shift in the realm of climate finance as it integrates health resilience and equity, transforming how climate adaptation and mitigation efforts are structured, executed, and assessed. WHO’s leadership in global health, coupled with its operational capacity and normative authority, positions it effectively to oversee impactful, multisectoral projects aimed at addressing the intertwining challenges of climate change and public health.

This pivotal development underscores the critical intersection of climate action and health, with potential long-term benefits for communities around the globe. As the climate crisis intensifies, the importance of addressing health impacts through dedicated funding and strategic partnerships cannot be overstated. The collaboration between WHO and the GCF is a proactive step towards safeguarding the health of current and future generations in the face of an ever-evolving climate landscape.