Saul Johnson | We urgently need to climate-proof health systems
23 June 2025
Climate change will impact already weak health systems, everything from infrastructure to workforce. Roads become impassable, electricity grids fail, and essential medical supplies cannot reach those who need them most. Furthermore, the immense pressure on health workers – already overworked and underpaid – escalates. We must invest in climate-resilient health infrastructure – facilities designed to withstand extreme weather events, powered by renewable energy, and equipped with robust supply chains. We also need data and modelling to predict the greatest impacts, and where they will be. Given the current funding environment, we need to focus on high impact investments, where we can deliver the best results for the most people.
We could see reversals in the gains we have made in reducing maternal and child illness and deaths. This is due to disruption of critical services, food insecurity, and displacement of populations. We need targeted interventions that integrate climate resilience into maternal and child health programs. This means investing in climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security, developing heat-resilient clinics and health posts, and ensuring continuous access to clean water. We need a strong multisectoral approach, and empowered communities.
We need climate-Resilient Health Financing and Policies. Without integrated policy frameworks that prioritise health in climate action plans, we risk a fragmented and ineffective response, ultimately burdening the most vulnerable populations. My experience with HIV taught me that without sustained, predictable funding, even the most innovative programs falter. We need innovative financing mechanisms that blend climate and health funding, supporting long-term, adaptive health programs. This includes advocating for greater allocation of international climate finance to health, exploring results-based financing, and leveraging private sector investment in health adaptation solutions.
*Johnson was a speaker at the Climate and The Future of Health Conference at The Conduit in London on 23 June. He spoke about how Genesis Analytics empowers communities and governments to build resilience in the face of climate change while unlocking the economic potential of their young, growing populations.