$777 Million Pledged to Eradicate Tropical Diseases as Climate Threatens Global Health

The United Arab Emirates and several charities at the UN climate summit yesterday announced a combined financing pledge of $777 million to combat neglected tropical diseases, which are anticipated to worsen with rising temperatures. The COP28 President, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, emphasized the escalating threat to human health posed by climate-related factors. The UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $100 million each, while Belgium, Germany, and the US Agency for International Development also committed funds to address climate-related health challenges. The World Bank initiated a program aimed at supporting public health in developing nations, where the risks associated with climate-related health issues are particularly high. The burden of tropical diseases, along with malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress, is set to increase as the planet warms. Some of these diseases are already treatable, such as river blindness and sleeping sickness, which are prevalent in Africa and spread by parasitic worms and flies that are likely to thrive in a warmer climate. Over 120 countries have endorsed a COP28 declaration acknowledging their duty to protect people from the impacts of global warming. However, the declaration did not address the issue of fossil fuels. This significant funding announcement reflects a global commitment to combatting climate-driven health risks and safeguarding human well-being amidst the escalating impacts of climate change.