Public health is well situated to advocate for policy change
More capacity is needed to monitor health effects and inequities, evaluate adaptation and mitigation interventions, address current under-representations of low- or middle-income countries, and translate research into effective policymaking, argues researchers and public health experts.
In the paper Public Health Measures to Address the Impact of Climate Change on Population Health—Proceedings from a Stakeholder Workshop researchers aimed to identify the current knowledge base, evidence gaps, and implications for climate action and health policymaking to address the health impact of climate change, including in the most underserved groups.
The paper springs out from a workshop ENBEL organised at the European Public Health conference in November 2021. Three researchers presented current evidence on environmental heat and occupational health related to the PREP project (Prof. Kristina Jakobsson), environmental heat and maternal health related to the CHAMNHA project (Prof. Matthew Chersich) and air quality impacts on health related to the ACROBEAR project (Prof. Stephen Arnold). In the second part of the workshop seven international researchers and public health experts participated in a panel discussion linking climate change and health.
Four key themes were identified:
(1) 'Evidence is key' in leading the climate debate,
(2) the need for 'messaging about health for policymaking and behaviour change' including health co-benefits of climate action,
(3) existing 'inequalities between and within countries', and
(4) 'insufficient resources and funding' to implement national health adaptation plans and facilitate evidence generation and climate action, particularly in vulnerable populations.
The paper concludes:
“The panel discussion provided an insightful overview of where science and policy stand in relation to climate change and health, demonstrating an increasing level of available evidence and public awareness, as well as evidence gaps and an urgent need to implement, evaluate, translate and integrate research and policies. Notably, little evidence exists to allow comprehensive analysis and addressing of the existing and very serious inequities. Policies do not make sufficient use of existing evidence, especially on health co-benefits of climate action, to prevent further deterioration in climate change, health and related inequalities. Going forward, a global focus on inequalities is needed for all public health intervention decisions which should include both benefits of action and costs of inaction in monetary and other terms.
Public health is well situated to advocate for policy change, so that climate change and its harmful effects on health can be reduced. Communication here is vital, to outline the positive health co-benefits of climate action, supporting a health-in-all-policies approach and linking climate action to the SDGs. Currently, too few resources and too little funding is available to sufficiently put these necessary steps into action. This is a major barrier that needs to be addressed at national and international level, particularly in LMICs.”
Read the full paper Public Health Measures to Address the Impact of Climate Change on Population Health—Proceedings from a Stakeholder Workshop.
The paper was presented at the 2022 Joint North-South Public Health Conference 30 November 2022.