Human health is a central issue of climate change and that the impacts of climate change is a present problem in Pacific Island countries.
This was a key message presented by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Jone Usamate (pictured right), while attending the COP21 climate change talks in Paris, France, recently.
Mr Usamate was a member of the Fiji delegation, invited to the COP21 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to speak at the WHO side event,
REMAIN vigilant about the issues pertaining to climate change. This was the message also given to heads of missions by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in Suva yesterday.
Mr Bainimarama said while COP21 was over, Fiji’s position as a vulnerable Pacific Island country and indeed as a leader of the voice of vulnerable countries needed to be further advanced and maintained.
“Many countries now look up to us, not just from the Pacific but from outside the region,
[SYDNEY] Climate change poses the most significant threat to humanhealth in the small low-lying, densely populated Pacific island nations, which have the least ability to adapt to such risks.
According to two recent studies by the WHO, Pacific Islanders are facing major health risks from non-communicable and infectious diseases which will be further aggravated by climate change.
“Increasing temperatures will reduce local harvest,
EBEYE, MARSHALL ISLANDS — Linber Anej waded out in low tide to haul concrete chunks and metal scraps to shore and rebuild the makeshift sea wall in front of his home. The temporary barrier is no match for the rising seas that regularly flood the shacks and muddy streets with saltwater and raw sewage, but every day except Sunday, Mr. Anej joins a group of men and boys to haul the flotsam back into place.
A human exodus is under way across the Pacific Islands as global warming unleashes a barrage of cyclones, floods, storm surges and droughts, a report warns.
Thousands of people have already fled island nations such as Tuvalu and Nauru which, because of their poverty and proximity to the sea, represent the “ground zero” of climate change.
They are leaving as their crops, buildings and water supplies are damaged by extreme weather,
Embargoed until 1100 hours, 9 May, 2014
Fifteen Pacific island countries will benefit from a project supporting vulnerable nations in the region to adapt to the impacts of climate change, through promoting sustainable livelihoods and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE) programme will also promote energy security solutions at national, provincial and community levels. The programme will include interventions to implement appropriate adaptation practices and technologies in food security,
Component 1
EU/GIZ Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
Funded by the EU administered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Component 2
Energy Catalytic Component
Managed by selected Pacific Island Countries, partly co-funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Zealand Government
Component 3
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the University of the South Pacific (USP)