Public Health Climate Change Adaptation Planning Using Stakeholder Feedback

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Climate change adaptation planning is critical for public health.
• The 10 Essential Public Health Services provide a framework for adaptation activities.
• Stakeholder input is essential for effective public health adaptation planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a state health department climate and health adaptation plan.
• To integrate stakeholder feedback into the planning process.

Main Methods:

• The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) conducted a climate and health planning process from 2010-2013.
• Surveys and needs assessments were used to gather input from program managers, leaders, local health departments, and other stakeholders.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding supported the initiative.

Main Results:

• 34.1% of state health program directors believed climate change impacts their priorities.
• 84.6% of surveillance managers offered ideas for climate and health monitoring.
• Local health departments reported less sufficient climate and health information and incorporation into planning compared to state leaders and other stakeholders.

Conclusions:

• NYSDOH utilized stakeholder feedback to create its Climate and Health Strategic Map in 2013.
• The CDC Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework offers a collaborative model for state-level climate and health adaptation.
• Diverse stakeholder input is key to developing effective climate and health adaptation strategies.