Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, World Health Organization (WHO) leader in the Pacific, has stressed that clean air, clean water, and a livable climate are “inalienable human rights.”
Speaking at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Piukala warned that climate change presents an “alarming” threat to health worldwide and is a moral imperative for global leaders.
“We need to act now,” he urged. “Investing in climate-resilient facilities is not a luxury. It is our lifeline.”
Piukala envisions a future where every healthcare facility can withstand climate shocks, with “clean, running water, reliable solar power, [and] safe waste disposal.”
Climate advocate Duncan Gabi added that Papua New Guinea’s absence at COP29 risks isolating the Pacific nation and jeopardizing critical climate funding.
As the summit continues until November 23, Piukala remains hopeful. “The governments…need to invest in climate-sustaining healthcare facilities,” he said, calling it essential for the future of health in vulnerable regions.