Climate & Health

Preparing and strengthening the capacity of health workers and local health systems to withstand and respond to future climate disasters

Our Approach

The climate crisis is a global health crisis that disproportionately affects people and communities who are already vulnerable to health challenges. The climate crisis is not a distant threat. Its impacts are already being felt by communities around the world — including through — persistent droughts that cause famine, rising sea levels that cause mass displacement, or extreme weather events that traumatize communities and disrupt health care access.

Project HOPE has a long history of providing urgent humanitarian and health assistance to communities experiencing climate-induced health emergencies, which are increasing in both frequency and severity. As this crisis deepens, we are preparing and strengthening the capacity of health workers and local health systems to withstand and respond to future climate disasters.

Around the world, our team:

Provides nutritional assistance to children, pregnant women, and communities impacted by droughts
Prepares for infectious disease outbreaks and mitigates their impact
Trains health workers and health systems for the future impacts of the climate crisis
Responds to urgent humanitarian needs that arise during climate-induced health emergencies like droughts, flooding, and other extreme weather events
Strengthens the capacity of local organizations and health workers to respond to emergencies
Advocates for reduced CO2 emissions on the community, national, and international levels
Delivers innovative programming and interventions in rural and climate-affected communities

in 6 years

the climate crisis will cause an additional 250,000 death each year

Undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress, all of which are exacerbated by displacement, will threaten entire communities and demand the attention of local health workers.

216 million

people will be displaced by the climate crisis by 2050

As persistent droughts impact crops, sea levels rise rapidly, and storm surges make climate hotspots unlivable, communities will be forced to relocate and require urgent humanitarian assistance.

44%

of communities are highly susceptible to climate emergencies

Communities in marshlands, coastal zones, and small islands, as well as those prone to droughts and floods, are dangerously at risk of extreme weather, and most local health systems are not prepared.

The Context

From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the climate crisis has serious and direct effects on our health. In times of mass displacement, disaster, extreme weather, and chaos, all people — but especially woman and children — are at an increased risk of harm, negative health outcomes, and serious mental health challenges. The climate crisis is also causing an increase in injuries, interrupted access to health care, crop failures, water scarcity and salinity, economic hardships, reduced health care options, and malnutrition.

The climate crisis is here. Project HOPE is rapidly preparing communities and health systems and stands ready to respond when climate emergencies erupt.