Investor Presentaiton

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Despite producing very little greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, people living in small island developing States (SIDS) are on the front line of climate change impacts. These countries face a range of acute to long- term risks, including extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones, increased average temperatures and rising sea levels. Many of these countries already have a high burden of climate-sensitive diseases that may be exacerbated by climate change. Some of the nations at greatest risk are under-resourced and unprotected in the face of escalating climate and pollution threats. In recent years, the voice of the small island nation leaders has become a force in raising the alarm for urgent global action to safeguard populations everywhere, particularly those whose very existence is under threat. Recognizing the unique and immediate threats faced by small islands, WHO has responded by introducing the WHO Special Initiative on Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The initiative was launched in November 2017 in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Fijian Presidency of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the UNFCCC, held in Bonn, Germany, with the vision that by 2030 all health systems in SIDS will be resilient to climate variability and climate change. It is clear, however, that, in order to protect the most vulnerable from climate risks and to gain the health co-benefits of mitigation policies, building resilience must happen in parallel with the reduction of carbon emissions by countries around the world. The WHO Special Initiative on Climate Change and Health in SIDS aims to provide national health authorities in SIDS with the political, technical and financial support required to better understand and address the effects of climate change on health. A global action plan has been developed by WHO that outlines four pillars of action for achieving the vision of the initiative: empowerment of health leaders to engage nationally and internationally; evidence to build the investment case; implementation to strengthen climate resilience; and resources to facilitate access to climate finance. In October 2018, ministers of health gathered in Grenada to develop a Caribbean Action Plan to outline the implementation of the SIDS initiative locally and to identify national and regional indicators of progress. As part of the regional action plan, small island nations have committed to developing a WHO UNFCCC health and climate change country profile to present evidence and monitor progress on health and climate change. This WHO UNFCCC health and climate change country profile for the Dominican Republic provides a summary of available evidence on climate hazards, health vulnerabilities, health impacts and progress to date in health sector efforts to realize a climate-resilient health system. Dominican Republic

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