4th Day of COP28 Attracts $777 Million in Funding to Combat Diseases Related to Climate Change Impacts
This Sunday, December 3rd, marked the “Health Day,” inaugurating the thematic agenda of COP28, the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
For the first time, the Climate Summit incorporates health as a specific theme, including a ministerial meeting on climate change and health on this 4th day of COP28.
Join us for these and other highlights from the 4th day of COP28, with exclusive coverage from Grupo Myr!
Donations to Combat Health Problems Exacerbated by Climate Change
The 4th day of COP28 was marked by the announcement of $777 million (3.4 billion BRL) from various countries and philanthropic entities. The money will be used to assist in the treatment of tropical diseases and thermal stress, among other health threats resulting from the impacts of climate change.
In the session “Unveiling Political and Financial Commitments,” government leaders and institutions affirmed that the climate crisis is a health crisis.
After all, it is impossible to address climate change, considering both the impacts and solutions, without addressing issues related to diseases, mortality, and adequate nutrition.
How can we find ways to protect people in this context?
Given the rise in global temperatures and the consequent health threats, this is the objective of countries, entities, and companies.
In some countries, the increase in cases of malaria, malnutrition, diarrhea, among other problems, overburdens health services.
Today’s panels featured representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), foundations, banks, governments, and environmental ministries, including Brazil’s Minister of Health, Nsia Trindade. Notable appearances included Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, and John Kerry, the U.S. envoy to COP28.
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, was also present and spoke at today’s ceremony that allocated funds to combat diseases, standing out as one of the main donors through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Highlights:
- 123 countries signed the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health;
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: donation of $100 million (492 million BRL);
- United Arab Emirates: donation of $100 million (492 million BRL);
- The USA, Belgium and Germany are among the financing countries.
- The World Bank launches a program aimed at evaluating possible measures to support public health in developing countries, where climate-related health risks are more pronounced.
Learn more about this topic in this Reuters Agency report.
Journey to COP30 in 2025, in Belém (PA)
Although President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s participation in COP28 has concluded, the Brazilian delegation remains in Dubai until the end of the Climate Summit on December 12th.
The Brazilian government’s efforts are focused on the journey to COP30 in 2025, to be hosted in Belém, Pará.
ICLEI Pavilion – Multilevel Action & Urbanization
At the ICLEI Pavilion – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global stage for municipal and subnational climate agenda at COP28, the day was filled with important debates.
Our directors, Sérgio Myssior and Thiago Metzker, attended the following sessions in person:
- “Subnational Governments as Climate Pioneers Request National Support to Advance”;
- “Climate Governance and Integrated Action in a Megacity”.
Other pavilions in which our directors also featured in sessions were:
- “Resilience and Adaptation in Amazonian Cities: Challenges and Advances” (Colombia Pavilion);
- “Multilevel and Multisectoral Climate Governance for Adaptation and Resilience” (Brazil Pavilion).
Check Out Grupo Myr’s Interviews on the 3rd Day of the Climate Summit!
Directly from COP28 in Dubai, our directors, Sérgio Myssior and Thiago Metzker, spoke today with:
Txai Suruí, indigenous activist
“Indigenous territories are still very threatened in Brazil.”
Txai Suruí
(Indigenous Activist)
Virgilio Viana, General Superintendent of the Amazonia Sustainable Foundation
“How does one advance this agenda that allows the forest to be more valuable standing than cut down? This is the great challenge, in my view, that adds to the issue of changing the energy matrix. We have to emphasize nature-based solutions that involve generating jobs and benefits for those who are poorest.”
Virgilio Viana
(General Superintendent of the Amazonia Sustainable Foundation)
Elkin Velasquez, regional representative of UN-Habitat, who spoke about the importance of climate financing.
“The Loss and Damage Fund is an initial step; we are moving in a good direction.”
Elkin Velasquez
(Regional Representative UN-Habitat)
Edmilson Rodrigues, Mayor of Belém, Pará, who lectured today at the Amazonian Cities Resilience event.
“ICLEI is a concrete partner that has greatly helped Belém to think about the future (…). Together, we are challenged to approve a plan that becomes public policy aimed at making Belém a reference in combating the climate crisis and, at the same time, the social crisis that is always linked to the climate crisis.”
Edmilson Rodrigues
(Mayor of Belém, Pará)
They also had the opportunity to talk with the President of IBAMA, Rodrigo Agostinho, and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira.
