With the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates, our news feeds are filled with reminders of the dramatic effects of climate change, from sinking islands to extreme weather events. All of that is, of course, true.
But what would happen if the world community would step up climate actions to the level required?
As United Nations officials working in Asia and the Pacific, we know that there are multiple tangible benefits that stronger climate action would bring to every segment of society. Climate action benefits development, health, and food security, and improves the lives of all citizens, particularly women and girls, children, and indigenous peoples.
As the world still recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and faces multiple shocks, the argument for climate action is increasingly compelling given its benefits for health and development.
As we are already witnessing in the Pacific, the impact of climate change on health is rising, with more deaths, illnesses, and injuries caused by extreme weather events, more waterborne and foodborne diseases, aggravated malnutrition, and the negative mental health impacts of displacement and disasters. Increasingly, the climate crisis is also a health crisis.
However, as world leaders heard at the first-ever Health Day at a COP on 3 December, urgent and effective action could save countless lives and enhance wellbeing.
A halt to the burning of fossil fuels and a shift to renewable energy would impact temperature rise. It could also help save the lives of the 7 million people lost each year due to air pollution. Promoting more active forms of transport such as walking and cycling would not only slash emissions but also promote physical activity, reducing rates of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and heart and lung disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that up to 5 million deaths a year could be averted if the population was more active.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also highlighted the multiple benefits of climate actions when it comes to economies and development. For instance, since March 2022, UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative – working with countries across the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenges of climate change – has directly improved the lives of almost 2.3 million people and, indirectly, more than 38.6 million people across 22 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Central Asia.
Investments in adaptation to climate risks provide a significant return. The Global Commission on Adaptation found that investing $1.8 trillion globally, from 2020 to 2030, in five areas – early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture, mangrove protection, and resilient water resources – could generate $7.1 trillion in total net benefits. And these benefits continue to accrue in relation to disaster risk reduction and resilience-building that are a core part of UNDP’s mandate.
UNDP and WHO are committed to helping countries in climate mitigation and adaptation to protect lives and livelihoods. We are developing specific development interventions in the Pacific, as Pacific Island countries and areas are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis while contributing very little to it.
Earlier this year, with funding from the Global Environment Facility of about US $18 million, we announced a new UNDP-WHO partnership supporting Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, to increase the climate resilience of health systems. This project will significantly reduce the impact of climate change on national health systems and ensure the provision of services in local health facilities, even when populations are faced with climate induced disasters.
Our collective challenge is to transition the global economy to an inclusive, resilient, and net-zero emissions path. Vast and transformational change is required across energy and food systems, infrastructure, transportation, land, industry, and other sectors, to combat climate change and eradicate poverty.
There are signs of hope. Global investment in energy transition technologies reached US $1.3 trillion in 2022, a record high. And 1 in 5 new cars sold in 2023 will be an electric vehicle. Yet, the current pace of climate action is not sufficient.
The climate crisis transcends borders. As such, no single country can succeed alone. Together, the global community must pool our expertise, resources, and innovation to tackle climate change comprehensively, ensuring a sustainable future for all.
Multilateral cooperation is not an option but a necessity.
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