Advancing Climate, Health and Equity Outcomes through Local Action in the Indo-Pacific

In November/December 2023, the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)) along with Melbourne Climate Futures (MCF) and the Climate CATCH Lab at the University of Melbourne (UoM), partnered to deliver a six-week program on climate, health, and equity training to 15 Fellows (cross-sectoral policy makers and interdisciplinary researchers) from across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The training program enabled knowledge exchange and enhanced capabilities through mentoring and the development of country-specific policy/practice climate solutions for implementation post-program. PCCC and MCF will host a follow-up four-day workshop in March 2024 to further support implementation of climate solutions, identify and prepare relevant collaborative funding opportunities, and progress joint publications for consideration in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7).

This session will include a panel of participating Fellows who will share their insights on advancing climate solutions for improved health and equity outcomes in countries and communities that are highly vulnerable to climate-related impacts. The session will demonstrate the multiple benefits of bringing together interdisciplinary, multi-sector, cross-country cohorts to learn from one another on climate and health. The session also provides a platform to elevate regional voices on climate and health, and will examine the avenues and mechanisms available for continued knowledge exchange and meaningful collaboration to inform local, national, regional and international climate solutions.