The early movers in the Climate x Health solution ecosystem

Authors: Manjot Kaur Dhananjay Vaidyanathan Rohini Chandni Goel Alessio Damato Prisha Saxena

This piece is the third article in our 4-part series on “Demystifying the Climate-Health Intersection”. Previous articles here: Part 1 and Part 2

Last week, we wrote about some of the emerging solutions in the Climate x Health challenge. This article attempts to build a picture of the entities that are leading the process designing and testing these emerging solutions.

As climate change continues to exacerbate health risks—from shifting disease patterns to extreme weather events—a growing network of organizations has positioned itself at the forefront of Climate x Health innovation. These “early movers” span philanthropic donors, multilateral agencies, NGOs, social enterprises, and partnerships, each experimenting with strategies that bridge the gap between environmental challenges and human well-being.

Below is non-exhaustive list of these trailblazers, organized into the four main areas of activity being prioritised: (1) Support for policy and planning, (2) Implementation in systems, (3) Implementation related to improving determinants of health, and (4) Evidence Building, Collaboration, and Advocacy.

1. Policy & Planning Support

·?????? The The Rockefeller Foundation has committed $100 million to test and scale climate-health solutions globally. The foundation is working closely with donors, development banks, and government leaders to incorporate climate-health objectives into broader development agendas.

·?????? The Global Fund and Green Climate Fund are championing the movement to aligning climate and health financing. These funds enable countries to assess climate threats to health systems, mobilize targeted investments, and scale proven interventions. Their policy engagement can play a major role in shaping how governments integrate climate concerns into national health plans.

·?????? World Health Organization is leading the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH). The Alliance collaborates with member states to embed climate considerations in health policies. This includes advocating for low-carbon healthcare facilities and guiding countries in climate-focused health system planning.

·?????? The World Bank is investing in projects to help countries assess climate-health vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience. By offering grants and loans, the World Bank encourages policymakers to prioritize climate adaptation measures—such as disaster-proofing health infrastructure and training local health workers to respond to new disease patterns.

·?????? Blended Finance efforts in the space are also being led by organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation to mobilise funding for this intersection. For example, The Rockefeller Foundation awarded a grant to Convergence Blended Finance to enhance local mobilization of private capital towards climate action in Southeast Asia.

2. Implementation Strategies: Direct Health Interventions

·?????? PATH has launched the Sustainable Action for Climate Health (SACH) initiative, which focusing on creating climate-adaptive health facilities, integrating renewable energy and disaster-resistant design elements. PATH is pilot testing climate resilient products and supply chains, and developing platforms to bring diverse stakeholders for consultations.

·?????? Jhpiego is investing effort in bolstering humanitarian support and strengthening health systems in communities severely impacted by climate change. They have equipped frontline health workers with the skills and tools needed to deliver essential services when extreme events (e.g., floods, hurricanes) disrupt traditional healthcare channels.

·?????? Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust are supporting R&D on climate data, sustainable agriculture, and food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While these foundations contribute significantly to research and policy, they also fund concrete field interventions—from novel disease surveillance techniques to agricultural innovations—that directly affect health outcomes in climate-stressed regions. For example, using this funding, a researcher at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, is leading a research consortium to examine how climate change influences the transmission and control of mosquito-borne diseases. The initiative aims to optimize interventions for malaria, chikungunya, and dengue in Southern Africa.

·?????? Unitaid is funding the creation and deployment of “climate-health smart products.” and accelerating the development of medical tools—diagnostics, vaccines, or treatment devices—that can withstand harsh environmental conditions.

3. Implementation Strategies: Determinants of Health

·???????? Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is prioritizing grantmaking in climate change mitigation, especially through local solutions. They are targeting areas crucial to overall community health, such as air quality and food systems. For example, they have made large investments to provide households with cleaner stoves and fuels to reduce indoor air pollution, a major contributor to respiratory illnesses

·?????? Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed to deliver $100 billion in cumulative climate finance by 2030. They will fund projects that reduce vulnerabilities in water, energy, and infrastructure—critical determinants of population health. ADB’s interventions often include building flood defences and improving sanitation in disaster-prone areas.

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4. Evidence Building, Collaboration, and Advocacy

·?????? Wellcome Trust is funding research on how climate change affects human health. They are working to generate the data and analysis needed to inform global policy decisions. By identifying specific climate-driven risks—e.g., heat stress, infectious disease expansion—Wellcome’s work guides more precise, evidence-based interventions. For example, using this funding a research team at the African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya exploring how climate change affects the nutrition and mental health of women and children in the Eastern African drylands. Their research will provide decision-makers with actionable insights to develop targeted strategies that mitigate the health consequences of climate change in vulnerable communities.

·?????? WHO–Civil Society Working Group is facilitating advocacy and policy conversations, bringing together diverse civil society organizations to raise awareness about climate-health priorities. Through joint action, they amplify the urgency of adapting healthcare systems to climate threats.

·?????? Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) is providing training to health professionals and working with governments on climate-health policies. They have developed frameworks and toolkits that local stakeholders can use to prepare for climate shocks—whether that involves extreme heat protocols in hospitals or best practices for air pollution management.

·?????? World Economic Forum (WEF) is prioritizing its global convening power to bring together corporate leaders, governments, and NGOs. By highlighting successful pilot programs, WEF fosters partnerships and funding streams for scaling up climate-adaptive health solutions. Addressing gaps in the climate–health ecosystem and incentivizing investment.

·?????? Global Climate and Health Alliance is promoting advocacy for climate-health initiatives through leadership, collective action, and research. It is uniting diverse stakeholders—academic institutions, NGOs, private sector—to champion integrated climate-health approaches. Their collaborations often spark cross-sector innovations and shape public narratives about the urgency of climate resilience.

By testing innovative financing models, developing cutting-edge tools, and embedding climate considerations into health systems, these organizations are shaping a global response that recognizes climate change as a central determinant of human well-being. The lessons learned from their early efforts will likely guide the next wave of investments and collaborations as climate impacts intensify worldwide.

We made this caveat earlier, but we cannot stress this enough: we have developed this picture of “early movers” over our reading of a limited dataset of about 200 published articles so we hope it will be seen as an indicative rather than a comprehensive landscape. Our list, at this point, is largely focused on large, global organizations. We are excited about building a next iteration of the landscape which is more comprehensive, and which includes local and regional organizations.

Help us expand our understanding – what are some entities we missed out and what are they doing in this space? Please comment below and we will share an expanded list with you!

Next up: what are most significant missed opportunities in the Climate x Health intersection?