In the Americas region, climate change poses a constant threat to the health of its populations: an increasingly warm climate and increasingly intense, frequent, and unpredictable weather extremes disproportionately impact the poorest and most disaster-prone communities. The health impacts of climate change could be greatly reduced through proven interventions in climate-resilient health systems, including health services, and through health determinants such as water, sanitation, food systems and disaster risk reduction.

For more than two decades, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been assessing the risks of global warming and integrating climate adaptation into all areas of work. In addition, IFRC has been working closely with National Societies and their volunteers to understand climate change and to help their communities reduce risks. IFRC, in collaboration with National Societies in the Americas, proposes to work with communities to strengthen their local resilience to climate change by boosting their capacities in health, water, hygiene and sanitation.

We will work together on different components such as knowledge and understanding of climate change, capacity building, community health with an emphasis on climate change, preparedness and response to health emergencies with a focus on "Green Response", as well as communication, awareness, education and advocacy.  Click on the image to view the full version of the Regional Concept Note on Health & WASH impacts of climate change. The summary version is available here.