COP31 pledges $375 million for climate‑health initiatives amid record heatwave deaths
Funders announce more than $375 million to support climate‑related health projects at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. The money will boost climate observation, data systems and early‑warning infrastructure for vulnerable communities. Simon Stiell, UN climate executive secretary, says the recent Northern Hemisphere summer heatwaves killed an estimated 50,000 people in Europe. UN data estimate over 30,000 excess deaths across Europe this summer, including about 16,000 during the 22–28 June heatwave. The Lancet Countdown reports 710,000 heat‑related deaths worldwide in 2023, 71 % of which are linked to human‑caused climate change, while only roughly 1 % of global climate finance is allocated to health.
Key facts
- COP31 opened on 10 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
- Dennis Tänzler, executive director at Adelphi Research, provided the 1 % health finance figure.
- The UN reports the provisional estimate of excess deaths across Europe exceeds 30,000 for the summer.
- The 2026 Lancet Countdown report links heat to 710,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.
- 71 % of the 2023 heat‑related deaths are attributed to anthropogenic climate change.
Summarised with AI from 2 sources · Updated 10:10Read our AI policy
Why it matters
Funding targets gaps between climate finance and health impacts of extreme heat.
What changed
Premium Times joined as a source
First published from Euronews