Health

Ensuring healthy futures for people and planet

The State of Affairs

Global development advanced remarkably over the past century. Now, climate change is jeopardizing those gains, reshaping our journey toward universal health.

Conditions for human life are evolving rapidly, with a surge in vector-borne illnesses, deteriorating air quality due to pollution and fires, and an increase in chronic diseases exacerbated by fragmented health systems.

Despite the immense challenges climate change brings, we view it as a transformative opportunity to save lives, build a better world, and secure prosperity for generations to come.

Why it Matters

  •  
    0ThousandThousand

    additional deaths per year will be attributed to climate change between 2030 and 2050

  •  
    $0BillionBillion

    in health damages in the U.S. due to climate change by 2030

  •  
    0%%

    of studied infectious diseases aggravated by climate change

Climate Change is Causing the Spread of Infectious Disease

Climate change is ramping up the risk of malaria, dengue, cholera, and other diseases around the world.

More incidents of severe weather along with warmer environments can effectively roll out a red carpet for disease-carrying vectors and pathogens.

It’s an evolving landscape. Data can help researchers understand the impact while supporting both early warning systems and disease monitoring. This gives public health officials a better chance of spotting outbreaks, and then containing them by rushing resources to protect people on the frontlines.

Our Strategy

  • 1Community-driven Innovation: We’re enhancing health equity in our global climate and health solutions. This includes supporting country-led climate vulnerability assessments to guide how local health systems safeguard vulnerable communities in a warming world.
  • 2Scalable Solutions: We collaborate with health researchers, data scientists, and cross-sector experts to scale solutions for community responses to infectious diseases.
  • 3Sustainable Financing: We work with global donors, development banks, country leaders, and stakeholders to secure essential financing that advance the principles of country ownership, accessibility, and long-term impact.
  • 4Policy and Partnerships: We align private sector, government, and nonprofit priorities to strengthen our collective response to climate change on a global, regional, and country level.

Related Grants

The Rockefeller Foundation’s grantees and global partners are advancing health security and resilience in a warming world. Click to learn more.

View Health Focused Grants

Truth Be Told: Credible Communication for Climate Action

Experts in the field explore the role that communications can play in driving action for climate and health.

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