Climate variability and change and their health effects in the Caribbean: information for adaptation planning in the health sector

Conference May 21-22, 2002, Workshop May 23-25, 2002, St. Philip, Barbados, West Indies

Small island states are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change. As exemplified in the quotations above from keynote speeches, the Barbados Conference and Workshop on Climate Variability and Change and their Health Effects in the Caribbean addressed the seriousness of health-related consequences and the inter-sectoral nature of possible responses. The overall objectives of the conference and workshop were to: inform health scientists, practitioners, and officials of the impacts of climate variability and long-term climate change in the Caribbean region; integrate health-relevant sectors (e.g.,water resources, agriculture and fisheries); introduce strategies in coastal zone management as they relate to sewage disposal and other health issues; foster joint interdisciplinary research projects among local participants, as well as developed/developing nation scientist partnerships; and promote the incorporation of global, regional and national climate information into planning for public health services at the national level.