UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The Commonwealth Secretariat and global health non-profit PATH have jointly introduced a groundbreaking initiative known as the Accelerator for Resilience in Climate and Health. Unveiled during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, this comprehensive platform is designed to expedite the development of promising innovations addressing the severe impacts of climate change on health systems and communities across the 56 Commonwealth countries. With climate change identified as a significant global health threat, causing extensive casualties and substantial health costs, the accelerator aims to bridge the gap by sourcing, deploying, financing, and scaling innovations that empower public health systems and communities to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.
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During the COP28 event, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and PATH’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nikolaj Gilbert, emphasized the critical nature of this initiative. Secretary-General Patricia Scotland highlighted the urgent need for tangible solutions, expressing the accelerator’s importance in fostering a global ecosystem of deployable climate-health innovations. Recognizing the dearth of proven solutions that governments can readily scale for population-level impact, the accelerator endeavors to catalyze action and bring about meaningful change. The goal is to improve the well-being of the vast population encompassing 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens.
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According to Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, “This initiative could not be more important. Climate change is the greatest health threat facing humanity, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and billions in direct health costs. The absence of proven solutions which governments can scale for population-level impact means that tangible action is sparse”. She added, “It is crucial for innovators to bring fresh ideas, rapidly develop solutions and drive implementation for large-scale impact. To support them, we are proud to launch our accelerator programme with PATH. Our work together will kick-start the creation of a global ecosystem of readily deployable climate-health innovations, designed to improve the well-being of 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens.”
The accelerator has already curated a robust pipeline of 127 climate and health innovations, with over 20 high-impact solutions poised for deployment in Commonwealth countries. Regular calls will be issued to attract innovators with promising climate and health projects to join the program. Successful candidates will gain access to a platform offering engagement with policymakers, on-the-ground operational support in Commonwealth countries, and technical and financial assistance for the deployment and scaling up of their innovations. The accelerator also invites support from donors interested in investing in government-backed, high-impact solutions.
PATH CEO Nikolaj Gilbert underscored the universal threat that climate change poses to health, emphasizing its disproportionate impact on vulnerable countries and exacerbation of existing inequalities. The accelerator aligns with PATH’s vision of a future where innovative approaches play a pivotal role in addressing climate-related health challenges. This initiative represents a significant stride toward building climate-resilient and sustainable health systems while fortifying communities in the face of an evolving climate landscape.
The launch of the accelerator aligns with the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth Secretariat and PATH, signed in March 2022. He stated, “The threat climate change poses to health is universal, but it disproportionately affects vulnerable countries and worsens existing inequalities. The accelerator will support climate and health innovations that help countries build climate-resilient, sustainable health systems and strengthen communities. PATH envisions a future where innovative approaches play a pivotal role in addressing climate-related health issues.”
