Climate Change and Public Health in Small Island States and Caribbean Countries

Abstract

According to popular perspective the small island states in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific regions are regarded as tropical paradises, far from the rest of the world and with pristine environments unharmed from climate change. Unfortunately this assumption is not true. Small island communities are the most vulnerable populations susceptible to the effects of climate change including warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, rainfall changes, and more severe extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tropical storms. Climate change impacts coral reefs, fisheries, and other marine-based resources and leads to the replacement of some local species, which negatively affects tourism, the most important source of income. Many small islands are located in tropical zones, where the climate is prone to increased risk from heat stress, asthma, and vector-, food-, and waterborne diseases. Changing climate conditions can worsen the impacts of these diseases. Thus, the effects of climate change create significant risks to public health, food security, natural resources, and the general economies of small island communities. This chapter highlights the impacts of climate change among small island communities and discusses their vulnerabilities.