Research for Action Agenda on Climate Change and Health in the Caribbean

Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) face ubiquitous climate change hazards, including flooding, drought, increased hurricane intensity, extreme heat, and sea level rise. The health of Caribbean people is threatened directly by these hazards, and indirectly by features of SIDS that affect health systems’ capacities to respond, including the small human resource base, economic fragility, and concentration of populations and infrastructure near coastlines. Climate change impacts especially affect some groups, such as children, older adults, people living with noncommunicable diseases, low-income families, and outdoor workers. 

This publication is a resource for policymakers, health professionals, civil society, and researchers, offering guidance on evidence-informed strategies for strengthening the response to climate change and health challenges. It is based on a regional stakeholder consultation process, which identified 18 priority areas for action, and a review of Caribbean research and surveillance evidence on each of the priority areas. The Research for Action Agenda on Climate Change and Health in the Caribbean includes chapters on each priority area showing what is happening, what should be done, and what needs to be known in order to achieve climate-resilient health systems. 

The chapters are organized under four domains: Climate change health impacts, exposures, and vulnerability; Adaptation, planning, and resilience for health; Mitigation action and health co-benefits; and Resources and engagement for action. Areas for strengthening research and surveillance are identified. The Agenda enables an understanding of health effects of climate change and ways to address these in the Caribbean context.