The article published in BMJ Global Health explores the risks climate change poses to women children and adolescents, particularly in the most affected regions, and suggests ways to bridge health and climate finance to protect these groups.
Women, children, and adolescents (WCA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in their health can help mitigate these inequities while also achieving broader health, economic, social, and environmental benefits. However, climate policies and funding often neglect women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH), highlighting the need for innovative financing strategies that align healthcare and climate action. The discussion addresses the challenges and opportunities in using climate finance to support WCAH, offering solutions like adaptive social protection and innovative purchasing strategies to ensure access to essential healthcare services and build resilience in the face of climate-related disruptions.