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: 370 000 in 2005
Population density: 64 per km2
Population projection: 470 400 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
Information is not available.

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 Nio/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in 1972/1973, 1982/1983,
1997/1998
Temperature
Temperature average: ~27C
Diurnal temperature range: 10C (22C to 32C)
Hottest months: MarchMay
Precipitation
Area with most precipitation: mountainous area in the south
Mean annual rainfall: 2300 mm to over 4000 mm
Wettest months: NovemberJanuary (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 Darussalams 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

Figure 2. Number of dengue fever cases from 1999 to 2006

No. of cases

Dengue Fever 1999 to 2006

180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2005

2006

Year

(3) Filariasis
Figure 3. Number of filariasis from 1999 to 2006
Filariasis 1999 to 2006

No. of cases

25
20
15
10
5
0
1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Year

2.2 Potential impacts of climate change on health burden, i.e. qualitative

and quantitative projections of future health burdens.
Information is not available.
2.3 Information on particularly vulnerable populations
Information is not available.

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
Information is not available.
3.4 Current and expected programmes and activities for adaptation to
current and projected climate-related health burdens
Information is not available.

4.

Institutional organization

Key organizations and/or institutions dealing with climate change are:

5.

Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (UNFCC focal point)

Prime Ministers Office
Ministry of Energy
Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources
Ministry of Communication
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Education.

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

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.