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Preparing the U.S. health community for climate change
Richard Jackson1, Kyra Naumoff Shields
1Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. dickjackson@berkeley.edu
Annual Review of Public Health
|January 5, 2008
Summary
The health sector must prepare for climate change impacts by developing adaptable action plans and demonstrating leadership at all levels. This involves analyzing health effects and formulating robust policies for effective climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health Policy
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Societal efforts to address climate change necessitate a prepared health community.
- Health personnel require flexible, iterative action plans for climate change preparedness.
- Climate change poses significant risks to human health, demanding proactive health sector engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of the health community's preparedness for climate change.
- To provide specific recommendations for climate change action at multiple levels (individual to national).
- To emphasize the critical role of health leadership in climate change adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on climate change preparedness within the health sector.
- Analysis of health impacts stemming from climate change.
- Synthesis of policy and leadership recommendations for health organizations.
Main Results:
- The health community's preparedness for climate change varies across different levels.
- Specific recommendations for action have been identified for individual, hospital, local, state, and national levels.
- Current preparation often falls short of the required policy development and advocacy.
Conclusions:
- The health community must actively analyze climate change impacts on human health.
- Robust policy formulation and authentic leadership are essential for effective climate change response.
- Public health and medical care agencies have a direct responsibility to demonstrate substantive leadership in climate change preparedness.
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