On November 17, 2024, the Albanese Government of Australia announced a significant investment aimed at addressing the health impacts of climate change in the Pacific region. This initiative includes a $2.5 million Pacific Climate and Health Resilience Package designed to bolster public health systems in Pacific nations.
The World Health Organization has identified climate change as a major global health threat, emphasizing the need for enhanced resilience in healthcare systems. The funding will support regional coordination and leadership in tackling climate-related health issues.
In addition to the resilience package, Australia will allocate $4.5 million to the World Mosquito Program. This funding aims to improve the control of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue and zika, in Timor-Leste, Kiribati, and Indonesia, as climate change alters rainfall patterns and mosquito distribution.
This financial commitment is part of the broader $620 million Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which seeks to strengthen health systems across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The announcement aligns with the implementation of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy, launched at the recent United Nations Climate Conference (COP28).
Officials, including the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, highlighted the importance of collaboration with Pacific nations to address the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.