he challenges of our time—climate change, public health crises, and sustainable development—are as interconnected as they are urgent. Rising global temperatures lead to more frequent extreme weather events, disrupting food systems and increasing the spread of vector-borne diseases. These impacts are disproportionately felt by the world’s most vulnerable, exacerbating inequities and threatening decades of progress.
Addressing these crises requires something greater than individual solutions. It demands a collective response, a global chorus of action. Multilateral institutions, alongside philanthropical organizations and global awards, have a unique ability to catalyze this collective power. But how can we best harness these forces to drive meaningful change?
The answer lies in breaking down silos, amplifying local innovation, and advocating for integrated policies that address the root causes of these crises.
The issues we face today do not respect borders or sectors. Health cannot be disentangled from climate or food security. At COP29, the World Health Organisation (WHO) underscored this by launching the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health, a historic partnership with the presidencies of Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, the UAE, and the UK.
This coalition is a testament to the power of institutions to bring together diverse actors for sustained action on health and climate commitments. Unlike previous initiatives, this coalition ensures continuous focus and action on health across successive COP presidencies, creating a sustained and coordinated effort that has not been seen before
The coalition builds on WHO’s leadership in integrating health and climate policies, fostering collaboration that recognizes the inseparability of these crises. Such partnerships pave the way for strategies that address the complex challenges facing communities worldwide, ensuring sustained and long–term impact.
Local communities often have the most creative solutions to their own challenges. These solutions are rooted in a deep understanding of local needs and conditions, yet they often face barriers to scaling, such as limited resources, lack of visibility, and insufficient support networks.
Platforms like the Zayed Sustainability Prize, where I have the privilege of serving as a Selection Committee member, are instrumental in overcoming these barriers by recognizing and investing in innovative solutions that have the potential to transform lives far beyond their original context. Today, the Prize celebrated 17 years of impact at its annual award ceremony, as it announced the 11 sustainability projects and organizations who will receive a transformational $1 million grant.
Philanthropical organizations also play a critical role in bridging these gaps. For instance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been instrumental in funding innovative health and climate solutions, such as AI–driven tools for disease tracking in underserved regions. By providing targeted funding and facilitating partnerships, philanthropic initiatives ensure that promising innovations do not remain confined to pilot stages but instead scale to deliver impact at regional or global levels.
For example, a solar powered healthcare center designed to bring clean energy and medical access to remote areas, or a sustainable food dryer that prevents harvest losses and enhances food security, might begin as localized efforts. Through platforms like the Prize and support from philanthropy, these initiatives gain global visibility, access to funding, and opportunities to connect with partners who can help them scale. By turning local successes into global models, these efforts not only uplift the innovators themselves but also ensure that their solutions reach the communities most in need. This approach embodies the power of progress, transforming bold ideas into sustainable impact.
Building on this momentum, the WHO is also stepping up to amplify local solutions on a broader scale. At COP29, the WHO operationalized the Health Impact Investment Platform (HIIP) in collaboration with development banks, providing coordinated financing for climate and health solutions in low- and lower–middle–income countries. HIIP bridges the gap between financial resources and technical expertise, creating a clear pathway for scaling innovations. By aligning these efforts, initiatives like HIIP demonstrate how targeted support can unlock the potential of local innovations to drive global progress.
Advocating for integrated policies that simultaneously address health, climate, and development challenges is crucial for achieving sustainable progress. The World Health Organization's Special Report on Climate Change and Health highlights how climate change exacerbates health issues and offers guidance on incorporating health considerations into climate policies.
A prime example of the co-benefits of integrated policies is the reduction of air pollution. Implementing measures to decrease emissions not only mitigates climate change but also enhances respiratory health and lowers healthcare costs. Such policies are not merely efficient; they are essential for meaningful progress.
Another illustrative case is the "Health in All Policies" (HiAP) approach, which promotes intersectoral collaboration to improve health outcomes while advancing other societal goals. For instance, urban planning that encourages active transportation—like walking and cycling—reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while simultaneously decreasing the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular conditions. This holistic strategy underscores the importance of designing policies that recognize and leverage the interconnectedness of health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
These examples demonstrate that integrated policies are not only more effective but also provide multiple benefits across various sectors, reinforcing the need for a cohesive approach to policy development.
Together, global institutions and platforms have the power to unlock the collective action needed to address our interconnected crises. By fostering collaboration, amplifying innovation, and championing integrated policies, we can build a future that is not only sustainable but equitable and resilient for all.
This is the power of progress in action: uniting institutions, platforms, and communities to create a world where health, sustainability, and equity are no longer aspirations but realities.
Let us seize this moment to act—together.
a global affairs media network
Unlocking collective power for a healthier, sustainable future
Photo by Sungrow EMEA from Unsplash.
January 14, 2025
Challenges such as climate change, public health crises, and sustainable development are as interconnected as they are urgent. These impacts are disproportionately felt by the world’s most vulnerable, exacerbating inequities and threatening decades of progress, writes Dr. María Neira.
T
he challenges of our time—climate change, public health crises, and sustainable development—are as interconnected as they are urgent. Rising global temperatures lead to more frequent extreme weather events, disrupting food systems and increasing the spread of vector-borne diseases. These impacts are disproportionately felt by the world’s most vulnerable, exacerbating inequities and threatening decades of progress.
Addressing these crises requires something greater than individual solutions. It demands a collective response, a global chorus of action. Multilateral institutions, alongside philanthropical organizations and global awards, have a unique ability to catalyze this collective power. But how can we best harness these forces to drive meaningful change?
The answer lies in breaking down silos, amplifying local innovation, and advocating for integrated policies that address the root causes of these crises.
The issues we face today do not respect borders or sectors. Health cannot be disentangled from climate or food security. At COP29, the World Health Organisation (WHO) underscored this by launching the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health, a historic partnership with the presidencies of Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, the UAE, and the UK.
This coalition is a testament to the power of institutions to bring together diverse actors for sustained action on health and climate commitments. Unlike previous initiatives, this coalition ensures continuous focus and action on health across successive COP presidencies, creating a sustained and coordinated effort that has not been seen before
The coalition builds on WHO’s leadership in integrating health and climate policies, fostering collaboration that recognizes the inseparability of these crises. Such partnerships pave the way for strategies that address the complex challenges facing communities worldwide, ensuring sustained and long–term impact.
Local communities often have the most creative solutions to their own challenges. These solutions are rooted in a deep understanding of local needs and conditions, yet they often face barriers to scaling, such as limited resources, lack of visibility, and insufficient support networks.
Platforms like the Zayed Sustainability Prize, where I have the privilege of serving as a Selection Committee member, are instrumental in overcoming these barriers by recognizing and investing in innovative solutions that have the potential to transform lives far beyond their original context. Today, the Prize celebrated 17 years of impact at its annual award ceremony, as it announced the 11 sustainability projects and organizations who will receive a transformational $1 million grant.
Philanthropical organizations also play a critical role in bridging these gaps. For instance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been instrumental in funding innovative health and climate solutions, such as AI–driven tools for disease tracking in underserved regions. By providing targeted funding and facilitating partnerships, philanthropic initiatives ensure that promising innovations do not remain confined to pilot stages but instead scale to deliver impact at regional or global levels.
For example, a solar powered healthcare center designed to bring clean energy and medical access to remote areas, or a sustainable food dryer that prevents harvest losses and enhances food security, might begin as localized efforts. Through platforms like the Prize and support from philanthropy, these initiatives gain global visibility, access to funding, and opportunities to connect with partners who can help them scale. By turning local successes into global models, these efforts not only uplift the innovators themselves but also ensure that their solutions reach the communities most in need. This approach embodies the power of progress, transforming bold ideas into sustainable impact.
Building on this momentum, the WHO is also stepping up to amplify local solutions on a broader scale. At COP29, the WHO operationalized the Health Impact Investment Platform (HIIP) in collaboration with development banks, providing coordinated financing for climate and health solutions in low- and lower–middle–income countries. HIIP bridges the gap between financial resources and technical expertise, creating a clear pathway for scaling innovations. By aligning these efforts, initiatives like HIIP demonstrate how targeted support can unlock the potential of local innovations to drive global progress.
Advocating for integrated policies that simultaneously address health, climate, and development challenges is crucial for achieving sustainable progress. The World Health Organization's Special Report on Climate Change and Health highlights how climate change exacerbates health issues and offers guidance on incorporating health considerations into climate policies.
A prime example of the co-benefits of integrated policies is the reduction of air pollution. Implementing measures to decrease emissions not only mitigates climate change but also enhances respiratory health and lowers healthcare costs. Such policies are not merely efficient; they are essential for meaningful progress.
Another illustrative case is the "Health in All Policies" (HiAP) approach, which promotes intersectoral collaboration to improve health outcomes while advancing other societal goals. For instance, urban planning that encourages active transportation—like walking and cycling—reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while simultaneously decreasing the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular conditions. This holistic strategy underscores the importance of designing policies that recognize and leverage the interconnectedness of health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
These examples demonstrate that integrated policies are not only more effective but also provide multiple benefits across various sectors, reinforcing the need for a cohesive approach to policy development.
Together, global institutions and platforms have the power to unlock the collective action needed to address our interconnected crises. By fostering collaboration, amplifying innovation, and championing integrated policies, we can build a future that is not only sustainable but equitable and resilient for all.
This is the power of progress in action: uniting institutions, platforms, and communities to create a world where health, sustainability, and equity are no longer aspirations but realities.
Let us seize this moment to act—together.
