Samoa calls attention to impacts of climate change on health

Samoa has called on the Pacific region to pay close attention to the impacts of climate change on other key sectors such as health. 
In her address at the opening of the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable on 13 August, the CEO of Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown Reupena said the recent decision of the International Court of Justice gives the region the assurance and legal strength to do more, to ensure the countries account for their emissions.
She also reminded the delegates from across the Pacific to consider the pressing health impacts unfolding in Samoa with the outbreak of dengue fever that has claimed six young lives.
“I’m talking about the link between climate change and the health sector. In particular the increased risks of vector-borne diseases, warmer temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are creating ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, increasing the spread of diseases such as dengue fever which is currently affecting communities across the Pacific,” she said.
“Protecting our peoples’ health is at the very core of climate resilience, so let us not forget to also pay close attention on the impacts on other key sectors particularly our health.” 

Drawing from the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Continent where Pacific leaders ‘ Under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Pacific leaders have set out the long-term approach for working together as a region by framing regional cooperation and action around a number of key thematic areas that include two climate-related goals. One, that all Pacific people are living safe, secure, and prosperous lives, resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters and two, the region remains a global leader on climate action.’ 
Ms Reupena congratulated SPREP for reconvening the Roundtable and encouraged a collaborative engagement over the next two days “…to share the challenges we face and the lessons we’ve learned as well as our successes, so that together we can advance our climate change priorities as a region and coordinate with our key donor partners to deliver the necessary climate finance to meet the needs of our people”. 
“I am sure that the work you advance together here under the Roundtable will not only align well with these 2050 Strategy goals, but will also provide a sustainable platform to drive the climate change priorities and needs of Pacific countries and produce enhanced collaboration with development partners,” she said.

END.

This story was by BCN News Editor/Head of News Ms G. Esther Pavihi who was part of the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings earlier this month in Samoa. The team’s attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.

The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR), guided by the theme “1.5 to stay alive and thrive,” took place at Taumeasina Island Resort from 13-15 August.

The PCCR was attended by Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to engage collectively through the use of interactive activities to share their experiences amongst peers, bolster their networks and utilise the event to initiate new partnership opportunities.