Every day, millions of people living with HIV rely on dolutegravir, a lifesaving treatment that has transformed global health outcomes. Yet, as with many critical medicines, the production of dolutegravir comes at a significant environmental cost, contributing an estimated 2.6 million tons of CO2 emissions annually—equivalent to the carbon footprint of a city like Geneva. Unitaid is committed to addressing this challenge, aligning global health priorities with climate action. Through groundbreaking research and analysis, we’ve shown that it’s possible to cut the carbon footprint of dolutegravir manufacturing by up to 90%.

As discussions around climate and health take center stage at the COP29 Health Day, this work underscores the urgent need to tackle emissions in the health sector. The efforts to decarbonize dolutegravir are about more than just one drug—they’re about setting a precedent for how the global health sector can reduce emissions while ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments.

This video takes you through the actionable steps identified by Unitaid and its partners to transform the manufacturing of dolutegravir into a climate-smart process. Watch to learn how Unitaid is driving innovation at the intersection of climate and health: