In the pursuit of sustaining and saving lives, the health tech sector has made remarkable strides in addressing disease, enhancing diagnostics, and improving patient care. Yet, there is an undeniable gap between the future of human health and the health of our planet.
With the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku starting November 11th, health innovators should pay closer attention to the intersection between climate and health technology. The two sectors are intertwined through shared concerns in technology, engineering, chemistry, investment trends, and impacting human life.
A Planet in Peril: Health at Risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established that climate change is more than an environmental urgency; it parallels a public health emergency. Rising global temperatures, increased pollution levels, and more frequent natural disasters are already straining health systems worldwide. Developed nations impacted by extreme heat waves experience higher rates of heat-related illnesses—asthma, respiratory, and heart disease—while emerging nations face the climate-related strife of food insecurity, which influences infectious disease.
Without a sustainable environment, health technology efforts will arrest symptoms, but skirt addressing the underlying cause of illnesses. Health technology leaders should pay close attention to policy developments and economic investments in the climate sector. Humanity’s health is intrinsically linked to the health of our planet, and in many ways, the value of both sectors.
The Intersection of Health Tech and Climate Tech
Health and climate technology have more in common than meets the research and development eye. Both sectors rely heavily on advancements in engineering, data analytics, and chemistry to develop solutions that improve life:
- Technology and Data Analytics: Health tech companies increasingly use AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to diagnose diseases, monitor patient health, and create personalized treatment plans. Climate tech companies use the same technologies to predict weather patterns, monitor emissions, and manage energy systems. In both fields, data is king—and the ability to track, analyze, and respond to patterns will dictate future successes.
- Chemistry and Materials Science: In health tech, advancements in materials science have led to innovations in medical devices, drug delivery systems, and biomaterials for tissue engineering. Similarly, climate technology depends on breakthroughs in chemistry to create renewable energy solutions, carbon capture technologies, and sustainable materials. The fields share a deep reliance on chemical innovation to solve complex problems, whether related to human biology or environmental degradation.
- Engineering and Infrastructure: The health and climate sectors also overlap in their focus on engineering. Health tech innovators are working on cutting-edge devices, from wearable tech that monitors health in real time to precision robotic surgery systems. Climate technology developers are designing renewable energy grids, sustainable water systems, and resilient infrastructure that withstands climate shocks. Each sector requires advanced engineering to build systems that improve the quality of life for people worldwide.
These overlapping technological and scientific foundations suggest that health tech innovators have much to learn from their counterparts in climate technology. Collaboration between these fields could lead to synergies, accelerating innovation that serves humans and the planet.
Why COP 29 Matters to Health Tech Innovators
The upcoming COP 29 meeting in Baku presents a key opportunity for global collaboration on climate solutions. It will bring together government officials, scientists, and industry leaders to discuss policy, set climate targets, and highlight new technological advancements to mitigate climate change.
Some 400 million tons of plastics are produced yearly, with half making up single-use products. Hospitals contribute significantly to landfill waste, generating 5.9 million tons annually in the U.S. alone, a large portion of it being non-degradable plastics, packaging, and medical equipment. These materials pose long-term environmental risks, contaminating soil and water supplies as they degrade slowly in landfills. So for companies such as UBQ Materials that are converting landfill waste into usable products – chairs, tables, consumer and household goods – or Solutum at the cutting edge of biodegradable packaging – the prospects of reducing health infrastructure carbon footprint and microplastics are in harmony with public health priorities.
Health tech innovators should be paying close attention to COP 29 for several reasons:
- Regulatory Changes and Policy Frameworks: Governments worldwide are increasingly looking to regulate carbon emissions, environmental sustainability, and public health impacts. COP 29 will be a platform where these regulations are shaped. Health tech companies must know how these regulatory changes could influence product development, supply chain management, and corporate sustainability goals. Staying ahead of these discussions can help companies adapt to shifting policies and ensure compliance with international standards.
- Funding and Investment Opportunities: As governments and private investors become more focused on climate-friendly technologies, funding for projects that combine health and environmental sustainability will likely be more attractive to investors. COP 29 will highlight areas where investment is prioritized—particularly in developing regions most vulnerable to climate change and its health impacts. Health tech innovators that align their efforts with climate goals may be in a stronger position to access new funding sources and expand into emerging markets.
- Collaborative Innovation: COP 29 will showcase policy discussions and the latest climate technologies. This allows health tech innovators to explore collaborations with climate tech companies to develop complementary solutions. Whether through AI-driven climate and health data sharing that warns people of heat-related conditions to hydrate and have their respirators at hand or by integrating renewable energy solutions into health tech infrastructures, cross-sector partnerships can accelerate progress in both fields.
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Consumers and investors increasingly demand that companies demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social impact. COP 29 will likely reinforce the importance of corporate sustainability goals in the global health and climate sectors. Health tech companies that ignore climate impact will soon face reputational risks and lost customers. At the same time, those who embrace sustainability as part of their business plan will stand out as leaders in the industry.
Innovators Can Establish Voice Uniting People and Planet
For too long, the health technology sector has assumed its focus should remain on human health and patient care. Yet, the connection between planetary health and human well-being is undeniable. As we approach COP 29 in Baku, health tech innovators might benefit by widening their vision to see the connected dots between their work and the climate technologies that will shape our shared future.
The solutions to tomorrow’s well-established health crises will not be found solely in diagnostic settings or hospitals. They will emerge from a comprehensive understanding of how environmental sustainability influences human health outcomes. Health innovators can build a future where people and the planet thrive by engaging with climate technology.
COP 29 offers the health tech industry a moment to listen, learn, and engage. It is a moment to recognize that, without a healthy planet, we cannot have healthy people. And it is a moment to act—together with climate innovators—to protect the future of life on Earth.
