Quadria Capital has partnered with HealthQuad and PwC India to unveil a pivotal report entitled “Financing the Climate-Health Frontier: Emerging Opportunities.” This extensive analysis underscores the vital necessity for increased funding in climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure to mitigate the severe health challenges induced by climate change across India.
Findings expose that over 90% of Indians face severe risks from heat-related stresses and a rise in climate-sensitive diseases. Despite these critical threats, investments in climate-health initiatives remain alarmingly scarce, with less than 2% of global climate adaptation finance allocated to health-related efforts.
Sunil Thakur, a partner at Quadria Capital, emphasizes the severity of this crisis: “Climate change transcends environmental concerns and manifests as a formidable healthcare crisis. The health repercussions are vast, necessitating targeted investments to protect health outcomes amid a changing climate. Our report offers a robust framework for stakeholders to pinpoint and prioritize climate-health initiatives that blend social impact with financial returns.”
Shivani Sahai, head of Impact and ESG at Quadria Capital, noted that “Current climate-health efforts in India are heavily mitigation-focused. Our report delves into the funding voids in adaptation strategies, lays out a prioritization schema to evaluate these interventions, and identifies pivotal enablers to bolster climate-health efforts.”
Dr. Rana Mehta, partner at PwC India, added, “Climate change, which intensifies public health challenges like heat-related illnesses, respiratory issues from poor air quality, and infectious disease spread, will most heavily impact society’s most vulnerable. Immediate financial investments are crucial to ensure a healthier planet for current and future generations.”
The report provides extensive data insights: Global climate spending in 2022 amounted to USD 1.4 trillion, with 91% allocated to mitigation and just 0.5% towards improving health outcomes.
India’s climate investments reached USD 22.5 billion in 2022, with approximately USD 1 billion (4%) channeled into climate-health projects. Debt instruments accounted for 80% of this funding, highlighting a significant gap in equity resources.
An estimated annual investment of USD 16 billion is required through 2030 to fund adaptation and mitigation efforts within India’s health sector, addressing climate-altered challenges.
Projections indicate a USD 3 billion annual opportunity for private investment in adaptation-targeted climate and health strategies.
The report highlights five vital enablers for advancing climate-health solutions, including innovative funding mechanisms, improved data and evidence generation, strategic collaborations, frameworks for impact measurement, and advances in research and human development.
Ultimately, this report calls on policymakers, investors, and the health industry to unite in fostering climate resilience within healthcare infrastructure. By confronting these challenges forthrightly, India can alleviate the health impacts of climate change and pave the way for a sustainable future for all its citizens.
Established in 2012, Quadria is a private equity firm concentrated on healthcare in Asia. With assets under management exceeding USD 3.5 billion, it seeks to maximize returns by investing in the rapidly expanding healthcare sector across some of the world’s fastest-growing regions in South and Southeast Asia, spanning sectors such as healthcare delivery, life sciences, medical technology, and associated healthcare services.