The initiative aims to provide national health authorities in SIDS with the political, technical and evidence and financial support to better understand and address the effects of climate change on health. This includes addressing climate change impacts on the main determinants of health (i.e. food, air, water and sanitation); improving the climate-resilience and environmental sustainability of healthcare facilities; and promoting climate change mitigation actions by the most polluting sectors (e.g. transport, energy, food and agriculture) to maximize health co-benefits.

The initiative will support national and regional partners in SIDS in four key areas: 1.Empowerment: Supporting health leadership in Small Island Developing States to engage nationally and internationally. 2.Evidence: Building the business case for investment. 3.Implementation: preparedness for climate risks, and health promoting mitigation policies. 4.Resources: Facilitating Access to Climate and Health Finance

In 2018, WHO will hold the Third Global Conference on Climate and Health. Taking an innovative, geographically dispersed approach, the Conference will be held in three locations, in the Pacific (Nadi, Fiji; 15-16 March), the Indian Ocean (St Louis, Mauritius; 21-22 March), and the Caribbean (Grenada, October 2018) Together, the meetings will bring together Government representatives from over 40 of the most vulnerable countries and territories in the world, with WHO, other UN partners and technical experts to advance global action on climate change and health.

The central principles of the initiative are country ownership, and an open partnership for delivery. Ministers of Health have already given high level input through consultation with the WHO Director-General, and in regional meetings covering the most affected countries. Based on this feedback, WHO proposes the following overall framework, and the proposed activities and contribution that the Secretariat will be able to make, to be support Member States.

WHO Special Initiative in collaboration with UNFCCC Secretariat and Fijian Presidency of COP-23