[EQ] Protecting Health from Climate Change - Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

Protecting Health from Climate Change
- Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

Extreme weather events can damage and destroy critical health infrastructure, and reduce health system efficiency.

 

Sustainable Development and Environmental Health
Pan American Health Organization/WHO 2012

Available online PDF file [72p.] at: http://bit.ly/IRNV5X

“….There is now strong evidence that the earth’s climate is changing rapidly, due mainly to human activities. Increasing temperatures, sea-level rises, changes in precipitation patterns and extreme events are expected to increase a range of health risks, from the direct effects of heat waves, floods and storms, to more suitable conditions for the transmission of important infectious diseases, to impacts on the natural systems and socioeconomic sectors that ultimately underpin human health.
Much of the potential health impact of climate change can, however, be avoided through a combination of strengthening key health system functions and improved management of the risks presented by a changing climate…..”

“……The critical first step in this process is to carry out a vulnerability and adaptation assessment. This allows countries to assess which populations are most vulnerable to different kinds of health effects, to identify weaknesses in the systems that should protect them, and to specify interventions to respond. Assessments can also improve evidence and understanding of the linkages between climate and health within the assessment area, serve as a baseline analysis against which changes in disease risk and protective measures can be monitored, provide the opportunity for building capacity, and strengthen the case for investment in health protection……”

Maria Neira, Director, Director, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization.

Luiz Augusto Galvão, Area Manager, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health, Pan American Health Organization/WHO

Content :

Preface

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Climate change is one of many determinants of health

2.0 Steps in conducting a vulnerability and adaptation assessment

2.1 Frame and scope the assessment

2.2 Conducting the vulnerability and adaptation assessment

2.3 Understanding future impacts on health

2.4 Adaptation to climate change: Prioritizing and implementing health protection

2.5 Establish an iterative process for managing and monitoring the health risks of climate change

3.0 Conclusion

4.0 Contributors and participants in the Costa Rica consultation

5.0 Definitions

6.0 References

Coordinating lead author: Kristie Ebi

Lead authors: Peter Berry, Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Carlos Corvalan, Joy Guillemot

Contributing authors: Marilyn Aparicio, Hamed Bakir, Christovam Barcellos, Badrakh Burmaajav, Jill Ceitlin, Edith Clarke, Nitish Dogra, Winfred Austin Greaves, Andrej M Grjibovski, Guy Hutton, Iqbal Kabir, Vladimir Kendrovski, George Luber, Bettina Menne, Lucrecia Navarro, Piseth Raingsey Prak, Mazouzi Raja, Ainash Sharshenova, Ciro Ugarte

 KMC/2012/SDE
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