The International Lactation Consultant Association appreciates the Draft Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health. As member states work to identify actions to enhance health while mitigating climate change, we emphasize that a key health strategy with positive outcomes for climate change is increasing breastfeeding.

Over 2 million tons of commercial milk formula are sold each year, generating greenhouse gas emissions, using large volumes of water, and generating waste in landfills.
Supporting women to breastfeed will reduce formula manufacturing, mitigating climate change, reducing climate risks to food security, and improving resilience in emergencies. Investment in breastfeeding can be recognized as a carbon offset in global financing arrangements.

ILCA calls on member states to include breastfeeding as a low-cost strategy with high returns into action plans on climate change and health.