Climate Change Country Profile: Brunei Darussalam

Transcription

1 Climate Change Country Profile: Brunei Darussalam 1. Country description 1.1 Geography Figure 1. Map of Brunei Darussalam 1.2 Demographics Population statistics (2005) Population: in 2005 Population density: 64 per km 2 Population projection: by 2020 Most densely populated area: Brunei-Muara District Multiethnic population: Malay (66.7%), Chinese (11.2%) Population pyramid: ageing population Literacy rate: 94.7% Health statistics (2005) Under-five mortality rate: 9.4 per 1000 live births Infant mortality rate: 7.4 per 1000 live births Maternal mortality ratio: 0.1 per 1000 live births Life expectancy at birth: Males: 74.2 (61.9 in 1971) Females: 77.3 (62.1 in 1971) 1.3 Economic and industrial development characteristics

2 1.4 Climate: climatic zones, trends in temperature and precipitation Equatorial climate Influenced by seasonal winds (south-western and north-eastern monsoons), diurnal wind system (land and sea breezes) and anabatic and katabatic winds Occasionally affected by tropical cyclones track in the South China Sea and North-west Pacific Affected by El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in 1972/1973, 1982/1983, 1997/1998 Temperature Temperature average: ~27 C Diurnal temperature range: 10 C (22 C to 32 C) Hottest months: March May Precipitation Area with most precipitation: mountainous area in the south Mean annual rainfall: 2300 mm to over 4000 mm Wettest months: November January (time of north-eastern monsoons) 2. Burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes 2.1 Climate-sensitive disease burdens Climate-sensitive diseases include heat-related diseases, vectorborne diseases, waterborne diseases, diseases from urban air pollution, and diseases related to extreme weather conditions such as floods, droughts, windstorms and fires. Most of Brunei Darussalam s climate-sensitive diseases are vectorborne. Waterborne diseases and diseases related to extreme weather conditions are minimal. Climate-sensitive diseases are addressed in the Revised International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 and Infectious Disease Order 2003 (1) Malaria Malaria-free since August 1987 Monitoring activities and vigilance programme in place Foreign Workers Screening Programme (2) Dengue fever 2

3 Figure 2. Number of dengue fever cases from 1999 to 2006 No. of case Dengue Fever 1999 to Year (3) Filariasis Figure 3. Number of filariasis from 1999 to 2006 Filariasis 1999 to No. of case Year 2.2 Potential impacts of climate change on health burden, i.e. qualitative and quantitative projections of future health burdens. 2.3 Information on particularly vulnerable populations 3

4 3. National programmes and projects 3.1 Programmes to reduce and/or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions Forest fire prevention and control Forest conservation Improvements to transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion Cogeneration power station to reduce emissions of pollutant gases Full use of unleaded gasoline to reduce air pollution 3.2 Climate change studies and projects, including their roles in the Second National Communications Interagency consultative session on the accession of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and Kyoto Protocol 3.3 Further data and research needs on potential health impacts of climate change 3.4 Current and expected programmes and activities for adaptation to current and projected climate-related health burdens 4. Institutional organization Key organizations and/or institutions dealing with climate change are: Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (UNFCC focal point) Prime Minister s Office Ministry of Energy Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources Ministry of Communication Ministry of Health Ministry of Education. 5. Issues and challenges The critical issues and challenges that the country faces in relation to mitigation and adaptation to climate change to reduce health impacts are: capacity to prevent and control vectorborne diseases; the various impacts of climate change, e.g. safety of food chain; incomplete and/or insufficient data on the overall impact of climate change in the country; 4

5 lack of baseline information on greenhouse gases; the inventory of industries in the country; level of public awareness and knowledge on climate change and its impact on health; the need to further strengthen multisectoral cooperation and collaboration; the need to further strengthen national communication; the use of alternative products, e.g. clean technology through public acceptance and enforcement and/or legislation. 5