Adapting to the health impacts of climate change in a sustainable manner

The climate is changing is this is posing significant threats to human health. Climate change is one of the
greatest challenges facing Pacific Island countries and territories due to their unique geophysical
features, and their social, economic and cultural characteristics. the Pacific region also faces challenges
with widely dispersed populations, limited resources and fragmented health systems. Over the past few
years, there has been a substantial increase in international aid for health activities aimed at adapting to
the threats of climate change. This funding needs to be used strategically to ensure an effective approach
to reducing the health risk from climate change. Respecting the principles of development effectiveness
will result in more effective and sustainable adaptation, in particular, 1) processes should be owned and
driven by local communities, 2) investments should be aligned with existing national priorities and
policies, and 3) existing systems must not be ignored, but rather expanded upon and reinforced.