Health impacts of climate change in Vanuatu: an assessment and adaptation action plan

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a tool for analysing potential health issues during planning stages of proposals using established systematic mechanisms to demonstrate factors that could affect health and to consider potential response options. This study used the HIA framework to consider potential health impacts of climate change on the population of Vanuatu, to assess the risks and propose adaptive responses. The HIA process involved the participation of a broad range of stakeholders including expert sector representatives in the areas of biophysics, socioeconomics, infrastructure, environmental diseases and food. The risk associated with each of the impacts was assessed with the application of a qualitative process that considered both the consequences and the likelihood of each of the potential health impacts occurring. Adaptation strategies and actions were developed to mitigate the identified health impacts and provide response options for the various sectors in Vanuatu.