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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2022) | Viewed by 52446

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jacques Oosthuizen

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Guest Editor

School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Interests: climate related health impacts; occupational respiratory disease

Dr. Neil J. Hime

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Guest Editor

The Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Interests: environmental health; air pollution and health

Prof. Dr. Peng Bi

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Guest Editor

School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: climate change and population health; adaptation; vulnerability; infectious disease; disaster response; public health policy and health services
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Andrew Mathieson

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Guest Editor

College of Health & Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
Interests: environmental health in the widest interpretation; health systems - monitoring and evaluation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world’s climate is changing. The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events make news headlines around the globe and every year new records are set for weather related measures such as temperature and precipitation. While changes in long-term climatic averages have more subtle impacts on health, extreme environmental events such as flooding caused by glacial melting or intense rainfall, wildfires as a consequence of drought and intense heat, and dust storms caused by high winds over land denuded by improper use and drought, are bringing the health impacts of climate sharply into focus. Even events like the COVID-19 pandemic can have a climate component as changes to the climate bring wildlife in closer proximity to humans.

Media coverage of local, regional and global environmental incidents has raised awareness of the public to the impact of climate on human health and this in turn has galvanised a political response to climate change. Climate action is now seen by many as an important election issue. This raised awareness and increased level of concern about climate change presents an opportunity to lobby for more research to better understand the relationship between climate and health with a particular focus on strategies and programs to protect health. Some of the research themes that need further exploration are centred around:

heat adaptation strategies of vulnerable populations, particularly in the developing world and tropical regions.
heat induced diseases among certain occupational groups such as outdoor workers in tropical regions.
acclimatisation strategies.
changes in mosquito and other disease vector distribution.
air quality impacts
climate and zoonotic disease.

Prof. Dr. Jacques Oosthuizen
Dr. Neil J. Hime
Prof. Dr. Peng Bi
Dr. Andrew Mathieson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

climate change
health impacts
disease

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enabling Transformational Leadership to Foster Disaster-Resilient Hospitals

by Heba Mohtady Ali, Jamie Ranse, Anne Roiko and Cheryl Desha

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032022 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4420

Abstract

Hospitals’ operational performance during disasters varies from failing, to being responsive and resilient, to dealing with disruption and surprise. Transformational leaders enable continuously learning hospitals that are resilient in the face of disasters by adapting regeneratively and evolving beyond undertaking conventional lesson-learning after each disaster. However, learning from successful transformational leaders in healthcare is still ad hoc with a lack of guidance on how to develop such leaders. Hence, this study sought to identify key competencies of transformational leaders by exploring hospital leaders’ actions in dealing with disasters, considering the disaster cycle of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (PPRR). A qualitative case-study design was adopted comprising in-depth semi-structured interviews with twelve senior hospital staff with operational leadership experience with disasters. Three significant categories (themes) and seven key component competencies (sub-themes, in brackets) of transformational leaders were revealed through the analysis of transcripts: (1) ‘Governance and leadership’ (‘transformative agency’ and ‘decisive accountability’); (2) ‘Planning and risk assessment’ (‘risk navigation’, ‘disaster attunement’, and ‘planning agility’); and (3) ‘Communication and network engagement’ (‘communication accelerator’ and ‘collaboration innovator’). The authors propose a transformational leadership model for hospital disaster resilience and an assessment checklist for leaders’ self-reflection to support hospitals in their transition to resilient operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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12 pages, 1577 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Climate Change and Health: Local Government Capacity for Health Protection in Australia

by James C. Smith, Harriet Whiley and Kirstin E. Ross

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1750; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031750 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3488

Abstract

Climate change is the greatest global health threat of the 21st century, with numerous direct and indirect human health consequences. Local governments play a critical role in communities’ response to climate change, both through strategies to reduce emissions and adaption plans to respond to changing climate and extreme weather events. Australian local government environmental health officers (EHOs) have the relevant skills and expertise to inform and develop adaptation plans for health protection in the context of climate change. This study used an online survey followed by phone interviews of local government management to determine the extent to which EHOs are involved in adaptation planning in health protection climate change plans. Questions were also asked to determine whether local councils are aware of EHOs’ capability to contribute and to gauge the willingness of management to provide EHOs with the workload capacity to do so. The findings demonstrated that although climate adaptation and mitigation planning is occurring in local government, it is not including or considering the public health impacts on the community. Primarily, it was found that this oversight was due to a lack of awareness of the health impacts of climate change outside of a disaster or emergency scenario. Currently, EHOs are an untapped source of knowledge and skills that can contribute to climate change adaption planning. To support this, a framework of local environmental health practice was developed to assist the reconceptualization of the scope of practice required for the planning and response to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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13 pages, 1050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Healthcare Workers’ Resilience Toolkit for Disaster Management and Climate Change Adaptation

by Heba Mohtady Ali, Jamie Ranse, Anne Roiko and Cheryl Desha

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912440 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4119

Abstract

Climate change has been recognised as a multiplier of risk factors affecting public health. Disruptions caused by natural disasters and other climate-driven impacts are placing increasing demands on healthcare systems. These, in turn, impact the wellness and performance of healthcare workers (HCWs) and hinder the accessibility, functionality and safety of healthcare systems. This study explored factors influencing HCWs’ disaster management capabilities with the aim of improving their resilience and adaptive capacity in the face of climate change. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen HCWs who dealt with disasters within two hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Analysis of the results identified two significant themes, HCWs’ disaster education and HCWs’ wellness and needs. The latter comprised five subthemes: HCWs’ fear and vulnerability, doubts and uncertainty, competing priorities, resilience and adaptation, and needs assessment. This study developed an ‘HCWs Resilience Toolkit’, which encourages mindfulness amongst leaders, managers and policymakers about supporting four priority HCWs’ needs: ‘Wellness’, ‘Education’, ‘Resources’ and ‘Communication’. The authors focused on the ‘Education’ component to detail recommended training for each of the pre-disaster, mid-disaster and post-disaster phases. The authors conclude the significance of the toolkit, which provides a timely contribution to the healthcare sector amidst ongoing adversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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14 pages, 1500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coastal Erosion and Flood Coping Mechanisms in Southern Thailand: A Qualitative Study

by Uma Langkulsen, Pannee Cheewinsiriwat, Desire Tarwireyi Rwodzi, Augustine Lambonmung, Wanlee Poompongthai, Chalermpol Chamchan, Suparee Boonmanunt, Kanchana Nakhapakorn and Cherith Moses

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912326 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2948

Abstract

Communities in coastal regions are affected by the impacts of extreme climatic events causing flooding and erosion. Reducing the impacts of flood and erosion in these areas by adopting coping strategies that fortify the resilience of individuals and their localities is desirable. This study used summative content analysis to explore the coping mechanisms of coastal communities before, during, and after various dangers relating to flooding and erosion. The findings from the study show that effective surveillance systems, disaster preparedness, risk mapping, early warning systems, availability of databases and functional command systems, as well as reliable funding are essential to efficiently cope with hazards of coastal flooding and erosion. As flooding and erosion have been predicted to be more severe due to climate change in the coming years, the adoption of effective natural and artificial mechanisms with modern technologies could help coastal regions to be more resilient in coping with the dangers associated with flooding and erosion. Pragmatic policies and programs to this end by actors are critical to averting crises induced by flooding and erosion in coastal areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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13 pages, 7726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Economic Resilience to Floods in Coastal Areas of Thailand

by Uma Langkulsen, Desire Tarwireyi Rwodzi, Pannee Cheewinsiriwat, Kanchana Nakhapakorn and Cherith Moses

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7316; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127316 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2642

Abstract

Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat are two coastal provinces in Thailand facing substantial threats from climate change induced hydrometeorological hazards, including enhanced coastal erosion and flooding. Human populations and livelihoods in these coastal provinces are at greater risk than those in inland provinces. However, little is known about the communities’ resilience and coping capacities regarding hydrometeorological hazards of varying magnitudes. The study conducted a quantitative socio-economic assessment of how people in Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces manage and respond to hydrometeorological hazards, examining their resilience and coping capacities. This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary data collection on the social and economic dimensions of resilience, and a review of literature on coping mechanisms to hydrometeorological hazards within the study area. Measuring and mapping socio-economic resilience was based on the available data gathered from the social and economic dimensions, with existing or standard indicators on exposure and vulnerability applied uniformly across subdistricts. A combination of social and economic dimensions produced novel socio-economic resilience index scores by subdistrict, which were mapped accordingly for the two coastal provinces. The study also derived a coping capacity index scores by combining availability of skills or soft capacity and availability of structural resources or hard coping capacity. Socio-economic resilience index scores varied greatly amongst subdistricts. Combining the soft and hard coping capacities, the average score across districts in both provinces was 3 out of a possible 4, meaning that most of the districts were largely resilient. However, variations also existed by subdistrict. Few subdistricts in both Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces had low coping capacity index scores between 1 and 2 out of 4. District averages of socio-economic resilience scores mask the variations at subdistrict level. More studies with rigorous methodologies at village or neighborhood level is needed to obtain a nuanced understanding of community resilience to hydrometeorological hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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17 pages, 1957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Heat Vulnerability Index: Spatial Patterns of Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity for Urbanites of Four Cities of India

by Suresh Kumar Rathi, Soham Chakraborty, Saswat Kishore Mishra, Ambarish Dutta and Lipika Nanda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010283 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4334

Abstract

Extreme heat and heat waves have been established as disasters which can lead to a great loss of life. Several studies over the years, both within and outside of India, have shown how extreme heat events lead to an overall increase in mortality. However, the impact of extreme heat, similar to other disasters, depends upon the vulnerability of the population. This study aims to assess the extreme heat vulnerability of the population of four cities with different characteristics across India. This cross-sectional study included 500 households from each city across the urban localities (both slum and non-slum) of Ongole in Andhra Pradesh, Karimnagar in Telangana, Kolkata in West Bengal and Angul in Odisha. Twenty-one indicators were used to construct a household vulnerability index to understand the vulnerability of the cities. The results have shown that the majority of the households fell under moderate to high vulnerability level across all the cities. Angul and Kolkata were found to be more highly vulnerable as compared to Ongole and Karimnagar. Further analysis also revealed that household vulnerability is more significantly related to adaptive capacity than sensitivity and exposure. Heat Vulnerability Index can help in identifying the vulnerable population and scaling up adaptive practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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15 pages, 3101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Correlation of Air Pollution and Its Causes in Northeast China

by Mingze Du, Weijiang Liu and Yizhe Hao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10619; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010619 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3143

Abstract

To understand the status of air pollution in northeastern China, we explore the structure of air pollution transmission networks and propose targeted policy recommendations. Using air pollution data from 35 cities in northeastern China for a total of 879 periods from 6 January 2015 to 3 June 2017, this paper used social network analysis (SNA) to construct a spatial association network of air pollution in the region, and analyzed the spatial association of air pollution among cities and its causes in an attempt to reveal the transmission path of air pollution in the region. The results show that inter-city air pollution in northeast China forms a complex and stable correlation network with obvious seasonal differences of “high in winter and low in summer”. Different cities in the region play the roles of “spillover”, “intermediary” and “receiver” of air pollution in the network. Small respirable particulate (PM2.5) pollution constitutes a significant component of air pollution in northeast China, which spreads from Liaoning province to Heilongjiang province via Jilin province. Therefore, regional joint pollution prevention and control measures should be adopted to combat the air pollution problem, and different treatment measures should be developed for different city “roles” in the pollution network, in order to fundamentally solve the air pollution problem in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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16 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change, Health Risks, and Vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of National Policymakers

by Raissa Sorgho, Maximilian Jungmann, Aurélia Souares, Ina Danquah and Rainer Sauerborn

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4972; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094972 - 7 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 9203

Abstract

Climate change (CC) constitutes one of the greatest threats to human health, and requires political awareness for effective and efficient adaptation planning. This study identified the perceptions of climate change and health adaptation (CC&H) among relevant stakeholders, decision-makers, and policymakers (SDPs) in Burkina Faso (BF) by determining their perceptions of CC, of related health risks and vulnerabilities, and of CC impacts on agriculture and food security. We carried out 35 semi-structured, qualitative in-depth interviews with SDPs, representing national governmental institutions, international organizations, and civil society organizations. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. SDPs shared similar perceptions of CC and concurred with three ideas (1) CC is a real and lived experience in BF; (2) the population is aware of climatic changes in their environment; (3) CC is intertwined with the agricultural and economic development of the country. SDPs identified biodiversity loss, floods, droughts, and extreme heat as posing the highest risk to health. They elaborated five exposure pathways that are and will be affected by CC: water quality and quantity, heat stress, food supply and safety, vector borne diseases, and air quality. In conclusion, SDPs in Burkina Faso are highly aware of CC hazards, relevant health exposure pathways, and their corresponding health outcomes. Mental health and the interplay between social factors and complex health risks constitute perception gaps. SDPs perceived CC&H risks and vulnerabilities align with current evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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Review

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19 pages, 571 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Implications of Climate Change on Health among Vulnerable Populations in South Africa: A Systematic Review

by Myo Myo Khine and Uma Langkulsen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3425; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043425 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5343

Abstract

Climate change poses numerous threats to human life, including physical and mental health, the environment, housing, food security, and economic growth. People who already experience multidimensional poverty with the disparity in social, political, economic, historical, and environmental contexts are more vulnerable to these impacts. The study aims to identify the role of climate change in increasing multidimensional inequalities among vulnerable populations and analyze the strengths and limitations of South Africa’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. A systematic review was applied, and literature from Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed, as well as relevant gray literature from 2014–2022 were reviewed. Out of 854 identified sources, 24 were included in the review. Climate change has exacerbated multidimensional inequalities among vulnerable populations in South Africa. Though the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy has paid attention to health issues and the needs of vulnerable groups, the adaptation measures appear to focus less on mental and occupational health. Climate change may play a significant role in increasing multidimensional inequalities and exacerbating health consequences among vulnerable populations. For an inclusive and sustainable reduction in inequalities and vulnerabilities to the impact of climate change, community-based health and social services should be enhanced among vulnerable populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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9 pages, 332 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Effect of Global Warming on Complex Disorders (Mental Disorders, Primary Hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes)

by Sarya Natur, Odeya Damri and Galila Agam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159398 - 31 Jul 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4062

Abstract

Multiple studies imply a strong relationship between global warming (GW) and complex disorders. This review summarizes such reports concentrating on three disorders—mental disorders (MD), primary hypertension, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We also attempt to point at potential mechanisms mediating the effect of GW on these disorders. Concerning mental disorders, immediate candidates are brain levels of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). In addition, given that heat stress increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels which may lead to blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and, hence, enhanced protein extravasation in the brain, this might finally cause, or exacerbate mental health. As for hypertension, since its causes are incompletely understood, the mechanism(s) by which heat exposure affects blood pressure (BP) is an open question. Since the kidneys participate in regulating blood volume and BP they are considered as a site of heat-associated disease, hence, we discuss hyperosmolarity as a potential mediator. In addition, we relate to autoimmunity, inflammation, sodium excretion, and HSP70 as risk factors that might play a role in the effect of heat on hypertension. In the case of T2D, we raise two potential mediators of the effect of exposure to ambient hot environment on the disease’s incidence—brown adipose tissue metabolism and HSPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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17 pages, 1521 KiB

Open AccessReview

Climate Change and Child Health Inequality: A Review of Reviews

by Emmanuelle Arpin, Karl Gauffin, Meghan Kerr, Anders Hjern, Angela Mashford-Pringle, Aluisio Barros, Luis Rajmil, Imti Choonara and Nicholas Spencer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10896; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010896 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6720

Abstract

There is growing evidence on the observed and expected consequences of climate change on population health worldwide. There is limited understanding of its consequences for child health inequalities, between and within countries. To examine these consequences and categorize the state of knowledge in this area, we conducted a review of reviews indexed in five databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts). Reviews that reported the effect of climate change on child health inequalities between low- and high-income children, within or between countries (high- vs low–middle-income countries; HICs and LMICs), were included. Twenty-three reviews, published between 2007 and January 2021, were included for full-text analyses. Using thematic synthesis, we identified strong descriptive, but limited quantitative, evidence that climate change exacerbates child health inequalities. Explanatory mechanisms relating climate change to child health inequalities were proposed in some reviews; for example, children in LMICs are more susceptible to the consequences of climate change than children in HICs due to limited structural and economic resources. Geographic and intergenerational inequalities emerged as additional themes from the review. Further research with an equity focus should address the effects of climate change on adolescents/youth, mental health and inequalities within countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Driven Health Impacts)

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