The United Nations has launched an initiative to protect people in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from the health impacts of climate change.
Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and President of the COP23 attends the opening session of the COP23 United Nations Climate Change Conference on November 6, 2017 in Bonn, Germany. Photo: AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Climate Change secretariat have drafted a strategy at the COP23 meeting in Bonn, Germany in partnership with Fiji who proposed the plan.
Fiji's Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, is the COP23 president, and said Fijians were well aware climate change posed a serious threat to health.
He said the plan would equip SIDS with knowledge, resources and technology to increase the resilience of their healthcare.
The plan aims to climate-proof health systems, collect evidence for investment and triple international financial support.
Currently, less than 1.5 per cent of international finance for climate change adaptation is allocated to health projects.
The WHO said people living in SIDS were on the frontline of extreme weather events, rising sea levels and increased risk of infectious diseases.
It said larger nations must to do everything they could to help SIDS prepare for the future that is already washing up on their shores.