National climate change and health action plan for the Republic of Kiribati

This National Climate Change and Health Action Plan (NCCHAP) is the end product of the join effort between the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and represents the health sector’s contribution towards climate change adaptation planning in Kiribati. Its purpose is to describe the specific health risks posed by climate change in Kiribati, and to outline strategies that may be followed to anticipate and avoid the most serious impacts of climate change on health.

This plan concentrates on activities to be carried out by MHMS, but also points to where wider actions are required, involving other agencies than Health. The focus is very much on adaptation (coping with change) rather than the primary prevention of climate change. However, this document notes in passing that there are opportunities in Kiribati for health-positive mitigation.