Climate change

Climate change is the biggest global health threat and intergenerational injustice of the 21st century. It affects people’s physical and psychological health through direct exposure to extreme weather events (e.g., heatwaves, storms, and floods), air pollution, food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, and disruptions to food systems, water security, healthcare and social protection services. Women, newborns, children, and adolescents are particularly affected due to their unique stages and needs in the life course.

However, there are multiple opportunities for win-win policies and investments to ensure co-benefits for climate action and women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH). Exploring co-financing mechanisms, such as adaptive social protection schemes that build women’s, children’s and adolescents’ resilience to climate shocks, can be important mechanisms to ensure climate adaptation and protect the progress on WCAH. Therefore, PMNCH advocates for climate policies and investments to prioritize WCAH and place women, children, and adolescents at the centre of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies. Additionally, it is essential that WCAH policies and investments address climate risks. PMNCH also aims to ensure that women, children, and adolescents are meaningfully engaged in climate and health policymaking.

Advocacy brief

Evidence

Intersectoral Financing on climate and WCAH

Partner resources

Databases