Wellcome announces US$25mn for climate and health as part of US$50mn commitment to World Health Organisation

A US$25mn grant will support the World Health Organisation (WHO) to expand its urgent work on the health effects of climate change. Speaking at the World Health Summit in Berlin this evening, Wellcome chief executive, John-Arne Røttingen, announced the grant as part of a total of US$50mn Wellcome would commit in funding to the WHO for a range of projects under its 2025-28 programme of work. 

John-Arne Røttingen said:

‘Now more than ever, the challenges any country faces are shared, often not only with neighbours but across regions or around the world. It is crucial we have strong multilateral agencies to facilitate countries working together on these shared challenges.

‘The WHO’s upcoming work programme – the world’s global health strategy – rightly reflects the urgency of the threat that climate change poses to human health. The scale of the challenge is such that climate change threatens to undo all the progress made on health around the world in recent decades.’

Philanthropic funding could be catalytic, helping the WHO to build capacity in specific areas, John-Arne said, but underlined it was crucial that countries commit to resourcing the UN body’s ambitions in line with the expectations they set of it.

The climate grant, announced today, will help the WHO to continue its leadership role in climate and health, commission research on the health impacts of climate change, develop methods for economic analysis of the impacts, and monitor countries’ progress in preparing for climate-related health challenges.

Beyond the US$25mn announced in climate and health funding today, further Wellcome funding is likely to focus on WHO’s science-based and evidence-informed work on mental health, infectious disease and strengthening scientific approaches to health challenges.

Wellcome said the enhanced focus on climate and health set out in the World Health Organisation’s 2025-28 work programme, ratified earlier this year, was a reflection of the urgency of the threat that climate change poses to human health. The announcement comes as climate change fuels an increased intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts and floods around the world.

John-Arne continued:

‘The WHO and other multilateral agencies face high expectations from countries around the world. It remains vital that governments invest in the WHO in line with the ambitions they have for its work. Wellcome, like other philanthropic funders, can help catalyse and reinforce action in specific areas, such as supporting the WHO’s scientific capacity. Together we can help the WHO ensure we are prepared to deal with the urgent health challenges facing the world and work for a healthier future for everyone.’

Grant to World Meteorological Organisation will boost its work on health

Wellcome also announced today an additional four-year, US6$mn grant to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). This grant will support the WMO’s joint climate and health programme with the WHO, aiming to ensure that health researchers and decision-makers are able to access and use appropriate and authoritative meteorological data to inform our understanding of and response to climate threats.