US Climate and Health Alliance

Urban health inequities and the added pressure of climate change: an action-oriented research agenda

Abstract

Climate change will likely exacerbate already existing urban social inequities and health risks, thereby exacerbating existing urban health inequities. Cities in low- and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable. Urbanization is both a cause of and potential solution to global climate change. Most population growth in the foreseeable future will occur in urban areas primarily in developing countries. How this growth is managed has enormous implications for climate change given the increasing concentration and magnitude of economic production in urban localities, as well as the higher consumption practices of urbanites, especially the middle classes, compared to rural populations. There is still much to learn about the extent to which climate change affects urban health equity and what can be done effectively in different socio-political and socio-economic contexts to improve the health of urban dwelling humans and the environment. But it is clear that equity-oriented climate change adaptation means attention to the social conditions in which urban populations live-this is not just a climate change policy issue, it requires inter-sectoral action. Policies and programs in urban planning and design, workplace health and safety, and urban agriculture can help mitigate further climate change and adapt to existing climate change. If done well, these will also be good for urban health equity.

Resource Type
Peer-reviewed article
Authors
Sharon Friel Trevor Hancock Tord Kjellstrom Gordon McGranahan Patricia Monge Joyashree Roy
Resource URL
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21861210
Publication
Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
Journal Abbr.
J Urban Health
Volume
88
Issue
5
Pages
886-895
Date
Oct 2011
DOI
10.1007/s11524-011-9607-0
ISSN
1468-2869
Short Title
Urban health inequities and the added pressure of climate change
Health and Human Impacts
Dislocation/displacement/migration Food security
Climate and Environmental Impact
Overview/general
Other
Climate and environmental justice/health equity Vulnerable populations

Resources main page