Unitaid launches climate action roadmap as UN Climate Change Conference urges action

In response to growing evidence on the detrimental impact of climate change on people’s health, the global health agency Unitaid has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the goals set by the Paris Agreement.

Following its Climate Action Roadmap, launched Unitaid will reduce carbon emissions of the Secretariat by 50% by 2030 and will offset its carbon footprint to effectively achieve net-zero emissions from 2022.

This announcement comes as countries committed to climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) this week, recognizing the urgent need to confront the mounting health risks posed by global warming.

Initial actions will focus on tackling the largest sources of emissions at the Secretariat level. These include decarbonizing procurements through net-zero and environmental pledges; reducing travel and prioritizing green modes of transportation, and closing its emissions gaps through high-quality certified carbon offset programs.

Looking to the future, Unitaid will push for climate solutions that reach beyond its organizational boundaries to reduce the carbon emissions of its investments and of the health products and innovations it catalyzes. These priorities will be reflected in Unitaid’s upcoming 2022-2026 strategy.

The Climate Action Roadmap sets out clear pathways to achieving these reductions in emissions across Unitaid’s operations. It was developed following a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment of Unitaid’s Secretariat and investment portfolio to establish a robust baseline of carbon emissions, conducted with support from independent evaluator Gaia.

Unitaid is proud to lead this effort with grant implementers, health agencies, and other partners to address unprecedented challenges caused by climate change and contribute to an environmentally responsible and sustainable global health response.