Unlocking a Greener Future: How $7.1 Billion in Climate and Health Financial Commitments Were Made in 2022

A recent report from the Rockefeller Foundation highlights a crucial issue: while financial aid for climate and health saw a substantial rise from 2018 to 2022, much of it still isn’t reaching the countries hit hardest by climate change.

Produced by SEEK Development in collaboration with adelphi consult and AfriCatalyst, with help from Global Health Strategies, the report titled Resourcing Climate and Health Priorities covers financial flows during this period. The findings show a leap in funding—from less than $1 billion in 2018 to $7.1 billion in 2022. Most of this funding came from bilateral donors, contributing around $4.8 billion, while other sources included multilateral health funds and development banks.

Despite this growth, the report notes that only about 35% of bilateral aid went directly to the countries that need it most, and fewer than half of the total funds reached low-income nations. There’s some positive news: the share of climate-related funding for health increased significantly, from just 1% in 2018 to 9% in 2022. However, in 2022, 24% of the available funds were loans, which can add financial strain rather than alleviate it.

Additionally, the report offers several recommendations. These include providing more support to broaden funding across different sectors, speeding up access to financial resources, aligning funding with local priorities, and promoting transparency in financial dealings.

“The rise in climate and health financing is encouraging, but we still need much more to truly protect people from the impacts of climate change,” said Naveen Rao, a senior vice president at the Rockefeller Foundation. He emphasized that all types of donors must boost their contributions and ensure that the funds reach those in greatest need.