An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the health sector in the Caribbean

Climate change affects the fundamental bases of good human health, which are clean air, safe drinking
water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. Climate change is known to impact health through three
climate dimensions: extreme heat, natural disasters, and infections and diseases. The temporal and
spatial climatic changes that will affect the biology and ecology of vectors and intermediate hosts are
likely to increase the risks of disease transmission. The greatest effect of climate change on disease
transmission is likely to be observed at the extremes of the range of temperatures at which
transmission typically occurs.
Caribbean countries are marked by unique geographical and geological features. When
combined with their physical, infrastructural development, these features make them relatively more
prone to negative impacts from changes in climatic conditions. The increased variability of climate
associated with slow-moving tropical depressions has implications for water quality through flooding
as well as hurricanes. Caribbean countries often have problems with water and sanitation. These
problems are exacerbated whenever there is excess rainfall, or no rainfall.
The current report aims to prepare the Caribbean to respond better to the anticipated impact of
climate change on the health sector, while fostering a subregional Caribbean approach to reducing
carbon emissions by 2050. It provides a major advance on the analytical and contextual issues
surrounding the impact of climate change on health in the Caribbean by focusing on the vector-borne
and waterborne diseases that are anticipated to be impacted directly by climate change. The ultimate
goal is to quantify both the direct and indirect costs associated with each disease, and to present
adaptation strategies that can address these health concerns effectively to benefit the populations of
the Caribbean.