6.5 Capacity building in response to health impacts
Developing a collective understanding of the science behind climate change is critical for health professionals to effectively interact and collaborate with others – including government, community, private and academic sectors – in designing, monitoring and evaluating efforts to address climate-related health challenges (Jagals & Ebi, 2021). Health professionals can also learn from other industries in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
The WHO has issued a series of vulnerability and adaptation assessments on the health impacts of climate change. While not exhaustive, these assessments offer useful frameworks for capacity building in priority health areas sensitive to climate change, such as undernutrition (WHO, 2019b) and diarrheal diseases (WHO, 2022c). The series presents evidence of climate impacts and provides guidelines on identifying vulnerable populations and planning appropriate responses to mitigate and monitor risks over time.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND UNDERNUTRITION
Climate change affects undernutrition, including wasting, stunting, underweight and deficiencies in nutrients, by altering the conditions of ‘food, care, and health’ (WHO, 2019b). According to the Technical series on adapting to climate-sensitive health impacts: Undernutrition (WHO, 2019b), climate change is expected to result in a net increase in children suffering from undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the positive effects of overall socio-economic development on nutrition. Both slow-onset climate events and extreme events have negative impacts on crop yields, although the impacts of extreme events may be more apparent. Globally, 80 per cent of cultivated land and 100 per cent of pasture lands are weather-dependent, making crop yields highly susceptible to climate change. The impact of climate change on nutrition is also reflected in lower access to foods (resulting in higher than normal prices of foods) and lower quality of foods. Warmer temperatures increase crop exposure to new pests and disease vectors and encourage microbial growth, which is not only toxic to ground plants and marine life but can also lead to food poisoning in humans. Pregnant women and foetuses are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. High temperatures and extreme weather events can affect appropriate care and feeding practices for infants. Undernutrition is associated with increased vulnerability to a range of diseases. Climate change may also negatively impact the interaction between patients and health providers.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND DIARRHEAL DISEASES
Sanitation and hand hygiene present significant challenges in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to a major (60 per cent) portion of the prevalence of diarrheal diseases. It is estimated that approximately 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water (WHO, 2022c). Climate change further compounds this challenge: hot weather, flooding and droughts can all increase the prevalence of diarrheal diseases, although viruses, bacteria, protozoa and oocysts respond differently to ambient conditions such as temperature, humidity, precipitation and extreme weather events. Overall, climate change promotes the growth of pathogens in the environment and often contaminates water and food sources. Vulnerability factors include exposure to climate hazards; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions; access to food, care and health services; adaptive and mitigation capabilities; and general health conditions.
The WHO reports mentioned above adhere to common methods outlined in the ‘vulnerability and adaptation assessment’ guidelines (WHO, 2021b). These guidelines recommend six steps for conducting vulnerability and adaptation assessments:
- Step 1: Planning – a project team needs to be established to identify key questions, define the scope of assessment, mobilise stakeholders and develop communication strategies
- Step 2: Vulnerability assessment – describe the health impacts of climate change and vulnerability of various populations to climate variability and predict trends in climate change
- Step 3: Capacity assessment – assess the capacity and current actions of health systems in responding to climate change challenges
- Step 4: Future risk assessment – assess the current and future health risks resulting from climate change
- Step 5: Adaptation assessment – assess the capacity of health systems to adapt to changes in health burdens and identify potential actions to maximise the health benefit through climate change mitigation strategies
- Step 6: Health policy, plans and reporting mechanisms – develop a plan to build climate-resilient health systems to better manage and monitor health risks of climate change
ACTIVITY
- What health or illness conditions are likely to be climate sensitive in your local community that warrant vulnerability and adaptation assessment?
- Have these been conducted? If not, why?
