Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies, distinguished representatives,
Esteemed colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is a true honour to welcome you to the launch of the five-year strategy of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health.
This is more than a strategy – it is a shared commitment, a bold step forward, and a call to action.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. For our Region, it is a daily reality.
Rising seas, stronger storms, and environmental degradation are already reshaping lives and livelihoods – not tomorrow, but today.
As someone who grew up on a small island in Tonga, I have seen firsthand how deeply our health is intertwined with the land, the ocean, and the rhythms of nature.
Today, those connections are under strain.
And the consequences are growing – climate-sensitive diseases, food insecurity, damaged health systems, and disrupted communities.
What’s most unjust is that those bearing the brunt are often those least responsible.
That’s why every moment counts. Every decision we make must be rooted in urgency, equity, and care.
This strategy gives us a clear path forward – toward climate-resilient health systems, greener cities and island communities, and food systems that nourish both people and planet.
But strategies alone don’t change lives.
It takes leadership.
It takes partnership.
And it takes courage.
No country, no community, no institution can do this alone.
As John Donne once wrote, “No man is an island.”
Today, we might say: No island stands alone in the face of climate change.
The threats we face cross borders. So must our solutions.
I am proud of this ambitious plan.
And I invite each of you to help bring it to life – for a healthier, more just, and more sustainable future for our Region and beyond.
Vinaka vakalevu.