The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a significant move by launching its first regional strategy focused on climate and health action during the seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. The strategy was developed in collaboration with health ministers and partners from 38 countries and regions and was spearheaded by the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health (ACE) based in Seoul, South Korea.
The Western Pacific, with over 2.2 billion inhabitants, is identified as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. The effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and worsening air quality, are already causing casualties and impacting livelihoods across the area. Annually, approximately 3.5 million people in this region die due to preventable environmental causes, including unsafe water and pollution. Alarmingly, outdoor air pollution claims a life every 14 seconds.
Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, described climate change as a present-day health emergency. The newly launched strategy is a clarion call for immediate action to promote healthier and more sustainable living conditions. It highlights three critical priorities for the next five years: developing climate-resilient health systems, promoting healthier urban and island environments, and advancing low-emission food systems.
Globally, WHO anticipates that climate change could result in an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050 due to a range of factors, including malnutrition and heat stress, with a substantial portion of this impact expected in the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Sandro Demaio, ACE Director, emphasized that collective efforts from diverse and innovative regional actors are essential to translate intentions into impactful actions.
Fiji, serving as the host for the strategy launch, exemplifies the significant challenges that Pacific nations face, particularly those threatened by rising sea levels. The new strategic plan will guide efforts to enhance implementation and encourage collaboration among governments, researchers, and other stakeholders throughout the region.
This initiative aligns well with previous discussions at conferences, such as the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health, where calls for coordinated climate-health actions were made. Fiji’s Health Minister, Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, has been vocal about the necessity for inclusive strategies that consider the health impacts of climate changes, echoing the sentiments expressed in the newly established WHO strategy.
As Pacific nations unite to tackle these pressing challenges, there emerges a positive outlook toward building resilient health systems capable of effectively addressing both current and future health threats. This strategic plan is anticipated to inspire similar commitments across the globe, further facilitating a collective response to the urgent health and environmental crises at hand.