Small island nations, home to over 65 million people, are on the brink of a health catastrophe due to the escalating climate crisis.
According to the Lancet Countdown report, heatwaves, extreme weather, droughts, and the spread of insect-borne diseases are worsening, jeopardizing both the health and livelihoods of island residents.
These nations, which have low greenhouse gas emissions themselves, are feeling the brunt of climate breakdown.
As sea levels rise, over a million people living in low-lying areas of small island developing states (SIDS) across the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean are at risk of displacement.
Furthermore, the disruption of the marine environment, a crucial part of their diet and culture, is exacerbating food insecurity, leading to a rise in chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes.
Experts emphasize that high-income nations must step up to reduce their emissions and support these vulnerable island states.
Dr. Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, director of the Lancet Countdown Centre, stresses the direct link between heat and its impact on health, labor productivity, and the marine ecosystem.
Extreme heat resulted in 4.4 billion lost work hours in 2023 alone, a staggering 71% increase from previous decades. This, combined with rising temperatures, fuels stronger storms that destroy homes and lives.
Rising heat and extreme weather threaten the health and livelihoods of island communities.The report also highlights a disturbing trend: climate breakdown is making it easier for diseases like dengue to spread, with warmer conditions increasing the potential for transmission by a third since the 1950s.
Meanwhile, changes in agriculture and fishing practices, along with more heat, are contributing to a shift toward unhealthy processed diets.
Although SIDS leaders have been vocal in urging the international community to address the links between climate change and health, many of these nations are ill-equipped to handle the looming crisis.
Only a few countries have national climate and health strategies, and the lack of reliable data hampers efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
As climate change impacts continue to intensify, the world must take urgent action to prevent a catastrophic future for small island nations.