Disaster Risk Reduction, Health and Sustainable Development: The Case of The Philippines

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly causing changes in the intensity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels and infectious disease distribution. It is affecting the economic, environmental and social determinants of health, and it will continue to increase migration and internal displacements of people, conflicts over natural resources and fragmented policy-making processes. While it is known to be one of the most serious threats to development, its impact is dependent on people's level of exposure (age, education, income and health status and access to public services). As climate-related disasters in developing countries pose a challenge for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, we should analyze development plans from a Disaster Risk Reduction perspective. The Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries to the health impacts of climate change and is considered to have a strong experience in DRR. Understanding how disaster management in this country can contribute to the implementation of the SDGs, focused on health, is highly relevant. So, what can we learn from this model? The aim of this paper is to conduct a qualitative analysis with the Philippines model as an example of development policy adaptation and a DRR-centered system in the context of climate change.