CARICOM launches a project tackling climate change impact

The Caribbean is currently ready to launch a project aimed at strengthening climate resilient health systems in a region affected by the impacts of economic, health, environmental and social crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative was presented by the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irving LaRocque, and proposes actions to face the impact of climate change on health in the member countries of that body and the so-called Small Island Developing States.

The CARICOM secretary general considered that ‘the most urgent and the greatest threat to our own existence’ is climate change and the Caribbean area have experienced its devastating effects.

About this issue, he pointed out the greater frequency and intensity of storms, unusually heavy rainfall, drought and rising sea levels and warned of ‘another less obvious consequence: the effect on health.’

LaRocque said that when we combine climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences and toll on the lives and livelihood of our peoples are enormous.

The project should meet the need for Caribbean-specific data and information to drive policy interventions and actions.
The Pan-American Health Organization played the leading role in negotiating for the funds for the project and has overall responsibility for coordinating the work.

According to the World Health Organization, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050, and the direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between US$2 billion and US$4 billion dollars per year by 2030