Caribbean climate and health resilience efforts

A UNICEF study titled ‘Child-Centred Climate Analysis for Building Resilience’ identified gaps in the climate plans of Barbados and five other Eastern Caribbean nations. The research found that these countries lacked child-specific indicators or measurable outcome targets to track if climate investments benefit children. Officials noted that children are on the ‘front lines of a climate crisis that they did not create’, facing impacts on education, food security, and family life.

Following these findings, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states endorsed the Caribbean Action Plan on Health and Climate Change (2026–2031). This regional framework is designed to strengthen resilient health systems and protect communities from climate-related health risks, including extreme heat, flooding, and changing transmission patterns of vector-borne diseases like dengue.

During the 63rd Directing Council of PAHO in Washington, D.C., the Caribbean Action Plan was reaffirmed as part of broader discussions on regional public health priorities. The council brought together health authorities to address emergency preparedness, primary care, and digital transformation. In addition to climate-related health protections, PAHO is advancing other regional cooperation efforts, such as a five-year agreement with Canada’s Bruyère Health Research Institute to promote disease elimination and health equity across the Americas.