Fiji’s Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has called for urgent global action to tackle the health impacts of climate change, in a powerful address at the opening of the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health.
Gathering alongside global leaders, including Brazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, and the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom, Dr Lalabalavu underscored how climate change has become an immediate reality rather than a distant threat.
“We find ourselves at a crucial intersection; our planet’s health and our collective well-being hang in the balance,” he remarked.
Highlighting the grave challenges faced by small island nations like Fiji, he stated that the effects of climate change are not abstract worries but immediate crises impacting the health system due to severe weather events and environmental degradation.
“Rising seas, intensifying cyclones, and shifting disease patterns are already impacting the health and wellbeing of our people,” he warned.
Dr Lalabalavu called for a united global response, urging participants to recognise the severity of the situation and take decisive action.
“Now is the time to galvanise our efforts and unite in action. Together, we can forge solutions that not only combat climate change but also protect the health of our communities and future generations,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the importance of the Belém Health Action Plan, describing it as a strategic and inclusive roadmap that centres health in climate action and addresses climate justice. “The most vulnerable must be the primary focus of our response,” he added.
To turn ambition into action, Dr Lalabalavu praised the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) as a crucial global platform for cooperation.
He stated, “ATACH has become the global platform for cooperation on climate and health, providing mechanisms for country-led implementation and access to financing opportunities.”
Fiji’s commitment to addressing health adaptation was evident as Dr Lalabalavu announced the development of the Health Adaptation Plan (HAP) for 2023-2030.
This initiative builds on the Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan from 2016 to 2022, aligning with national strategies to ensure health systems can deliver essential public health functions amid the challenges posed by climate change.
