Finding the information you need about climate change and health can be daunting – there’s just so much of it available. On this Resources page, we have tried to collect, curate, and categorize resources that cover a wide array of topics related to climate change and health. We have prioritized resources that are not in the peer-reviewed literature, but that offer credible information. Only relatively recent resources are included (post-2010), except for those that offer an excellent review of an issue, or are in some way seminal.
We welcome suggestions for additions to the Resources page. Only resources that have a date will be considered for inclusion. Please send your suggestions to info@climatehealthconnect.org.
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Resources
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A Call to Action: Training Public Health Students to Be Effective Agents for Social Change abstract
In the 21st century, we face enormous public health challenges that differ fundamentally from those of the last century, because these challenges involve widespread societal change and complexity. To address these challenges, public health professionals need to be able to place their work in a larger social context, understand local and global perspectives on a deeper level, and effectively engage a wide variety of stakeholders. To confer these skills, we need to change the way we train our students. We present two examples of low-cost innovative approaches to teaching public health that promote active engagement with individuals across a wide range of backgrounds and fields and that train students to be effective agents for change.
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A Call to Climate Leadership abstract
Catholic heath care leadership played a critical role in making the case for health care reform. This role in securing the successful passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) boldly demonstrated an ongoing commitment to a healing mission and the realization that the transformation envisioned by the ACA would require an expanded and vivid vision for health care. Health insurance coverage is now a reality for millions of Americans, and a 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study using census data shows that the U.S. is experiencing the lowest uninsured rate in 50 years. Yet more must be done to bring access to health care for all, to bring healing and health to the world.
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A Climate Crisis Is Also A Health Crisis abstract
Climate change effects extend far beyond the very real and urgent crisis faced by California communities that are running out of water (“Climate Issues Moved to Fore in California by Governor,” news article, May 20).Millions of Californians now rely on groundwater contaminated by agricultural runoff and industrial chemicals. Drought-related dust and wildfires intensify asthma, respiratory diseases and Valley Fever. Less agricultural production means poorer nutrition, fewer jobs and higher food prices for the entire country.
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A Declaration on Climate Change and Health abstract
As leading public health, disease advocacy and medical organizations, the American Lung Association reiterates their longstanding commitment to addressing climate change as a public health issue. This statement articulates their consensus on the health impacts of climate change and the need for action to protect public health.
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A Dose of Nature: Addressing chronic health conditions by using the environment abstract
Evidence for the effectiveness of Green Prescriptions – doses of nature tailored to patients’ needs – comes from many disciplines, but this brief summary concentrates on the medical and public health literature. The research demonstrates numerous correlations between different indices of health and wellbeing and exposure to nature, and the most recent overview shows that the evidence regarding these benefits is strong (Hartig et al 2014). What is missing, largely because studies for such interventions are often hard to design, is knowledge about cause-and-effect relationships.
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A framework for stakeholder engagement on climate adaptation abstract
The CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship has been created to address the urgent national challenge of enabling Australia to adapt more effectively to the impacts of climate change and variability. This working paper series aims to: Provide a quick and simple avenue to disseminate high-quality original research, based on work in progress; Generate discussion by distributing work for comment prior to formal publication.
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A Guide for Health Impact Assessment abstract
The intent of the guide is to support current and prospective practititioners of impact assessment in California and the United States, to foster thoughtful and high-quality use of HIA, and to promote consideration of health in all policies. The Guide provides a brief background on HIA, an outline of essential and common tasks in the HIA process, discussion of common issues and challenges encountered in the HIA process, examples of and links to resources for practice. It also provides suggestions for integrating health analysis within the regulatory environmental impact assessment process, obtaining inclusion from diverse stakeholders, and evaluating the HIA process. The Guide may be useful for public health or regulatory agencies responsible for implementing HIAs. This Guide is not proscriptive, definitive, or exhaustive, nor is it a methodological toolkit for all HIA analysis. The guide does not address how to develop the capacity to conduct or institutionalize HIA (e.g., technical skills), how to construct a project team, budgeting, etc. The resources section of the guide provides links to other articles, guidance documents, and references that provide complementary information.
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A Health Impact Assessment of California’s Proposed Cap-and-Trade Regulations abstract
Objectives. To identify unintended health effects of California’s controversial cap-and-trade regulations and establish health-promoting policy recommendations, we performed a health impact assessment., Methods. We used literature reviews, public data, and local health surveys to qualitatively assess potential health risks and benefits related to changes in employment and income, energy costs, effects of emission offset projects, and cobenefits from the allocation of program revenue. We examined case studies from various communities to find existing social, economic, and environmental health conditions., Results. We found that policy implementation will minimally impact job creation (< 0.1% change) and that health effects from job sector shifts are unlikely. Fuel prices may increase (0%–11%), and minor negative health effects could accrue for some low-income households., Conclusions. Offset projects would likely benefit environmental health, but more research is needed. Allocating some program revenue for climate change adaptation and mitigation would have substantial health benefits. Health impact assessment is a useful tool for health agencies to engage in policy discussions that typically fall outside public health. Our results can inform emission reduction strategies and cap-and-trade policy at the federal level.
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A Health Impact Assessment of Non-Motorized Transportation Improvements in East Lansing abstract
A number of transportation infrastructure and program changes were proposed, aimed at increasing the amount of non-motorized transportation used for travel within and through East Lansing primarily by improving the safety and aesthetic character of the walking and biking environment. This HIA focuses on these recommendations that could affect the health of residents and visitors in a primary route between East Lansing’s core historic neighborhoods, primary schools, and Michigan State University.
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A Healthier Community, A Healthier Climate abstract
What if our response to climate change created healthier communities? Could healthier habits lessen climate change?Oakland, California, a city of struggle and progress, is looking for the answers. Just like climate change, the city’s problems often feel unfixable, but Oakland’s healthy policies make us global leaders in the climate change fight.In December, I attended COP21, the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. It was a unique experience; a space for world leaders and multibillion dollar deals where a student like myself sat next to Al Gore on the bus. However, the local aspect of climate change seemed far away. The Paris Agreement barely mentions the personal health connection.