Small Island Developing Small Island Developing States: Climate and Health States: Climate and Health EffectsEffects

Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.Joan L. Aron, Ph.D.

Earth Technologies ForumEarth Technologies Forum

Washington, DCWashington, DC

April 22-24, 2003April 22-24, 2003

Alliance of Small Island Alliance of Small Island StatesStates

“Perhaps when the human health costs are appreciated and added to the material costs and environmental damages faced by small island States a new spirit of cooperation and partnership will emerge.”

His Excellency Tuiloma Neroni Slade Ambassador of Samoa to the United Nations Chairman, Alliance of Small Island States

Barbados, May 21, 2002

Alliance of Small Island Alliance of Small Island StatesStates

AOSIS: Coalition of small island and AOSIS: Coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countrieslow-lying coastal countries• Africa, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Africa, Caribbean, Indian Ocean,

Mediterranean, Pacific, South China SeaMediterranean, Pacific, South China Sea Issues of environment and Issues of environment and

developmentdevelopment Vulnerability to the adverse effects Vulnerability to the adverse effects

of global climate changeof global climate changeSEA LEVEL RISE

CHANGES IN RAINFALL REGIMES

Small Island Developing Small Island Developing States Factors increasing States Factors increasing vulnerabilityvulnerability

Small physical sizeSmall physical size Surrounded by large expanses of oceanSurrounded by large expanses of ocean Relative isolationRelative isolation Limited natural resourcesLimited natural resources Growing populationsGrowing populations Exposure to damaging natural disastersExposure to damaging natural disasters Low economic diversificationLow economic diversification Limited funds, human resources, skillsLimited funds, human resources, skills

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeSea level riseSea level rise

Displacement of coastal Displacement of coastal communitiescommunities

Disturbance of agricultural activityDisturbance of agricultural activity Coastal erosion, beach loss, Coastal erosion, beach loss,

decline in tourismdecline in tourism Intrusion of sea water into Intrusion of sea water into

freshwater aquifersfreshwater aquifers

Multiple Time ScalesMultiple Time ScalesSea level riseSea level rise

Sea level rise (long time scale)

Storm event (short time scale)

Increased vulnerability to storm surges, coastal flooding

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeThreat of sea level riseThreat of sea level rise

Hurricane Lenny Hurricane Lenny Eastern CaribbeanEastern Caribbean

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeChanges in rainfall Changes in rainfall regimesregimes

Prospect of more frequent droughts Prospect of more frequent droughts and floods in tropical ocean regions in and floods in tropical ocean regions in which small island states are locatedwhich small island states are located

Water supply is a major concernWater supply is a major concern Experience of small island states is a Experience of small island states is a

microcosm of the global picture microcosm of the global picture International Year of Freshwater 2003International Year of Freshwater 2003

Water ResourcesWater ResourcesGlobal issueGlobal issue

International Year of Freshwater 2003

Multiple Time ScalesMultiple Time ScalesChanges in rainfall Changes in rainfall regimesregimes

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation The El Niño/Southern Oscillation ( ENSO ) affects global weather ( ENSO ) affects global weather patterns, cycling every two to seven patterns, cycling every two to seven years.years.

Rainfall regimes shift.Rainfall regimes shift.• Floods or droughtsFloods or droughts

Responses to ENSO help to reduce Responses to ENSO help to reduce adverse impacts of climate on health.adverse impacts of climate on health.

ENSO 1997-1998ENSO 1997-1998Drought in Pacific IslandsDrought in Pacific Islands

ENSO 1997-1998ENSO 1997-1998Drought in Pacific IslandsDrought in Pacific Islands

More skin disease in FSM, MarshallsMore skin disease in FSM, Marshalls Poor air quality from wildfires in Guam, Poor air quality from wildfires in Guam,

Pohnpei, Yap, PalauPohnpei, Yap, Palau Relief food shipments Relief food shipments Information campaign reduced incidence Information campaign reduced incidence

of diarrheal disease in Pohnpei hospital of diarrheal disease in Pohnpei hospital Water storage and conservationWater storage and conservation Many diseases under study ( dengue, ... )Many diseases under study ( dengue, ... )

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsAfrican dust in the African dust in the CaribbeanCaribbean

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsAfrican dust in the African dust in the CaribbeanCaribbean

African dust is transported in the African dust is transported in the atmosphere across the Atlantic Ocean atmosphere across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. to the Caribbean.

Drought conditions in Africa have led Drought conditions in Africa have led to increasing amounts of dust over the to increasing amounts of dust over the past few decades. past few decades.

Ongoing studies probe the effects of Ongoing studies probe the effects of dust on human health, coral reefs, dust on human health, coral reefs, agriculture and livestock.agriculture and livestock.

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsRiver outflows from S. River outflows from S. AmericaAmerica

Regional InteractionsRegional InteractionsRiver outflows from S. River outflows from S. AmericaAmerica

Massive kills of reef fish from Trinidad & Massive kills of reef fish from Trinidad & Tobago to Barbados - July to October 1999Tobago to Barbados - July to October 1999

Freshwater bacterium Freshwater bacterium Streptococcus iniaeStreptococcus iniae isolated from dead and dying fishisolated from dead and dying fish

High rainfall in northern S. America in 1999High rainfall in northern S. America in 1999 Large quantities of fresh water from Large quantities of fresh water from

Amazon and Orinoco river basinsAmazon and Orinoco river basins Lower salinities, higher temperatures, Lower salinities, higher temperatures,

unusual reverse currents in the Caribbeanunusual reverse currents in the Caribbean

Climate and Small Island Climate and Small Island StatesStatesPublic health responsePublic health response

“Ministries of Health should play a central role in this response -- but should also remember that finding enduring solutions will depend on inter-sectoral communication and convergence.”

Professor Tony McMichael Director, National Centre of Epidemiology and Population Health Australian National University

Barbados, May 21, 2002

Inter-Agency Network Inter-Agency Network on Climate and Human on Climate and Human HealthHealth

World Health Organization World Health Organization

World Meteorological OrganizationWorld Meteorological Organization

United Nations Environment United Nations Environment ProgrammeProgramme

and their regional offices

Inter-Agency Network Inter-Agency Network Workshops in small island Workshops in small island statesstates

Pacific Ocean: Apia, Samoa, 2000Pacific Ocean: Apia, Samoa, 2000• WHO Regional Office for the Western PacificWHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific• WMO Subregional Office for the South PacificWMO Subregional Office for the South Pacific

Caribbean Sea: St. Philip, Barbados, 2002Caribbean Sea: St. Philip, Barbados, 2002• Pan American Health OrganizationPan American Health Organization• Office of Caribbean Program CoordinationOffice of Caribbean Program Coordination• UNEP Regional Office for Latin Amer. & Carib.UNEP Regional Office for Latin Amer. & Carib.

Indian Ocean: Maldives, 2003 ( planned )Indian Ocean: Maldives, 2003 ( planned )• WHO Regional Office for South-East AsiaWHO Regional Office for South-East Asia

Principal Partners in Principal Partners in Caribbean Meeting on Caribbean Meeting on BarbadosBarbados

Barbados Ministries

Health; Physical Development & Environment

Caribbean Organizations

CPACC; CEHI; CAREC; CIMHU.S. Donors

EPA; NOAA; NASACanadian Donors

Health; Environment

Caribbean Climate and Caribbean Climate and Health Health WHO reportWHO report

Small island statesSmall island statesNext steps in climate and Next steps in climate and health health

Recommendations from workshop Recommendations from workshop participants for enhancing awareness, participants for enhancing awareness, using data, and strengthening institutionsusing data, and strengthening institutions

Coordination of sharing of information Coordination of sharing of information and networking of regional organizationsand networking of regional organizations

Maldives workshopMaldives workshop Guidelines for national vulnerability and Guidelines for national vulnerability and

adaptation assessments of health adaptation assessments of health impacts of climate changeimpacts of climate change

Sunset in Sunset in BarbadosBarbados