Strengthening Climate Resilience and Sustainability of Health Systems in the Western Pacific Region

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Description: This session will establish the scientific and regional context for climate-health risks and resilience. It will introduce basic climate science, the key climate drivers in the WP region (e.g. heatwaves, floods, cyclones) and the regional health impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, including vulnerable profiles of countries and communities. It will address the reciprocal relationship between climate change and health systems. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain key concepts related to  climate change and their implication for health systems in the regional context

2. Understand acute and slow-onset climate change risks to health and healthcare systems

3. Define and contextualise the components of a climate-resilient health system within the local setting and its role in mitigating these risks 

4. Outline fundamental health system adaptation processes and steps required to prepare for and respond to climate change 

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Description: This session introduces frameworks, methods and tools for assessing climate risks to health systems, including facility risk mapping, identifying vulnerability as critical tools for prioritising actions in building health system resilience. 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

1. Explain the concept of climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment, and its role in strengthening health system preparedness and resilience

2. Identify and apply relevant frameworks and methods to conduct a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment

3. Collaborate and engage with stakeholders across sectors (e.g., water, infrastructure, agriculture, urban planning, energy and health) to support integrated risk reduction strategies

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Description: This session focuses on linking health surveillance systems with climate data, improving early warning systems for outbreaks and extreme events and decision support tools to mitigate climate-related health risks. Participants will learn to identify climate-sensitive health indicators and integrate them into surveillance systems for timely public health responses but also how these can be standardised then incorporated in consideration with data interoperability and predictive analytics and key components. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the core components of early warning systems, including data collection, and communication strategies, and analyse how these systems mitigate health risks in the context of climate change.

2. Develop climate-sensitive health indicators (e.g., vector-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses) and assess their integration into surveillance systems for timely and effective public health responses.

3. Explain and apply approaches to  strengthening  health surveillance frameworks that incorporate climate change projections, stakeholder engagement, and technological innovations to improve community resilience and preparedness.

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Description: This session examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by health systems, and explores their sources and impacts. Participants will learn the basics of life-cycle analysis, review current estimates of health sector emissions, and identify opportunities to decarbonize and reduce emissions across all scopes. Case studies in the region will illustrate practical strategies for creating more sustainable and climate-resilient healthcare systems.

Learning outcomes:

1. Define a net-zero health system and its key components

2. Describe and differentiate  scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within health systems and analyze their relative contributions 

3. Explain the theoretical basis of a life-cycle analysis

4. Understand and examine current estimates of GHG emissions from health systems  and its relevance to healthcare emissions

5. Identify and assess opportunities to reduce GHG emissions within each scope, with relevant  examples

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Description: This session guides learners through the intersection of health system strengthening and climate action, highlighting how climate-smart strategies can deliver multiple benefits for both people and the planet. Participants will explore practical frameworks for embedding climate resilience into health system performance assessments. Through real-world case studies, the session shows how strengthening primary health care can simultaneously reduce environmental impact, lower healthcare costs, and improve population health outcomes.

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain how strengthening primary health systems can support climate action and deliver co-benefits for health and sustainability.

2. Apply relevant frameworks to integrate climate resilience into health system performance assessment.

3. Analyse case studies to identify strategies that reduce environmental impact and healthcare efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

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Description: This session examines the role of health systems in promoting equity while addressing climate change. Participants will explore how structural determinants of inequity, including poverty, geographic remoteness, migration and displacement, disability, gender, and age, shape differential vulnerability to climate-related health risks and how climate hazards therefore disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and the importance of integrating equity into adaptation and mitigation strategies. Through case studies and practical frameworks, the session highlights approaches to identify at-risk groups, reduce health disparities, and strengthen health system resilience. Participants will gain insights on designing climate-informed interventions that safeguard the most vulnerable, ensuring that health systems not only respond to climate impacts but also promote fairness, accessibility, and community-centred solutions.

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the importance of health equity in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

2. Identify and analyse populations that are uniquely vulnerable to climate-related health risks within health systems.

3. Analyse how structural determinants of inequity (poverty, geography, migration, disability, gender, age) shape climate-related health vulnerability.

4. Assess and apply strategies for integrating equity considerations into health system planning and climate interventions.

5. Design and propose practical, equity-focused actions to ensure health systems protect the most vulnerable populations while addressing climate change.

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Description: Indigenous communities in the Western Pacific are disproportionately affected by climate hazards. This session centres Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty in health governance, and the role of traditional ecological knowledge in climate adaptation. Rather than treating Indigenous communities solely as vulnerable populations (covered in Session 6), this session foregrounds Indigenous agency and leadership in building climate-resilient health systems. Participants will examine strategies for strengthening health systems in ways that are culturally responsive, equitable, and climate-resilient. Through case studies and practical frameworks, the session highlights approaches to reduce health disparities, protect vulnerable populations, and integrate traditional knowledge into adaptation and mitigation planning, fostering systemic resilience while supporting community-led solutions.

Learning outcomes: 

1. Explain and analyse how climate change disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities and contributes to health inequities.

2. Identify and assess key vulnerabilities and systemic gaps affecting Indigenous health in the context of climate hazards.

3. Evaluate approaches for integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific evidence in health system resilience planning.

4. Describe the role of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in health governance and climate adaptation.

5. Design and propose practical interventions that integrate traditional knowledge and strengthen Indigenous health equity in adaptation and mitigation planning.

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Description: This session explores how digital health technologies and AI can strengthen health systems resilience in the face of climate change and growing healthcare demands. Participants will examine how digital tools, data systems, telehealth, predictive analytics, and AI-supported decision-making can improve healthcare access, surveillance, service delivery, and health emergency preparedness and responses. The session will also consider ethical, governance, equity, and workforce challenges associated with implementing digital health innovations across diverse settings. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the role of digital health and AI in strengthening health systems resilience.

2. Evaluate opportunities and challenges associated with AI implementation in health systems.

3. Understanding ethical, equity, privacy, and governance considerations in digital health and AI applications.

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Description: This session explores the critical role of effective health communication and education in supporting  behavioural changes related to climate adaptation and GHG mitigation. Participants will explore practical strategies for communicating climate-related health risks to diverse audiences, with a focus on  audience segmentation,  message tailoring, and stakeholder engagement. The session also considers the potential mental health impacts of climate communications, highlighting both risks and opportunities, and offers solutions to overcome local and national challenges in health system adaptation, with a focus on developing communication and capacity-building approaches that are contextually relevant, inclusive, and action-oriented.

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain and analyse the role of  climate change communication and education in motivating behavioural changes related to adaptation and GHG mitigation

2. Identify and apply key strategies for communicating climate change health risks to stakeholders and the public

3. Explain and apply principles of  audience identification, segmentation and message tailoring in  climate change communication

4. Identify and assess the potential impacts of climate change communications on mental health,   including both harmful and empowering effects

5. Identify and analyse local and national challenges to u health system adaptation and propose appropriate communication and engagement strategies to address these challenges

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Description: This session explores how effective leadership and governance strengthen health systems during crises and ongoing challenges. It highlights the importance of adaptive leadership, accountability, coordination, and evidence-based decision-making in building resilient healthcare systems. Using the WHO health system framework, the work explains how resilient systems can prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies such as pandemics and disasters while maintaining essential services. It also emphasizes collaboration, community trust, and continuous learning as key factors for sustainable health system resilience. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Explain the role of leadership and governance in managing climate crises and building resilience.

2. Analyse leadership and governance strategies used to strengthen coordination, accountability, communication, and decision-making in health systems.

3. Identify opportunities to change and barriers and enablers for success.

4. Recommend actions to improve resilience through policy development, finance, workforce support, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.