Fiji has issued a strong call for immediate and coordinated regional action on the growing threats of climate change and health, during the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific held in Nadi this week.

Delivering Fiji’s statement on climate change, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, underscored the urgency of the issue, noting that while some nations may still view climate and health risks as distant challenges, Pacific Island countries are living with their impacts every day.

“Others may have the luxury to watch and wait; we, on the other hand, must act now to survive,” Ravunawa said, stressing the existential threat climate change poses to communities, healthcare systems, and livelihoods across the region.

As part of its commitment to resilience and adaptation, Fiji presented its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) a five-year roadmap to strengthen health infrastructure, enhance laboratory diagnostics, and empower health workers and vulnerable communities.

The plan, supported by development partners including KOICA, focuses on ensuring the country’s health system remains robust in the face of escalating climate impacts.

Hon. Ravunawa also highlighted the unequal distribution of global climate and health funding, calling for greater international investment and collaboration to close the resource gap for small island developing states.

Fiji reaffirmed its support for the draft Regional Framework of the Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health in the Western Pacific, urging WHO and regional partners to work closely with Pacific nations in addressing these urgent priorities over the coming year.

“The integration of climate and health into global climate initiatives remains incomplete,” Ravunawa said.

“We need equitable access to resources that protect our people, our environment, and our future.”

As discussions continue, Fiji’s intervention has been widely viewed as a powerful call to action, reflecting the country’s leadership in advocating for climate resilience, health security, and sustainability in the Pacific.