Defining Roles and Responsibilities of the Health Workforce to Respond to the Climate Crisis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health Policy
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Climate change poses significant threats to global health, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.
• Health professionals are underutilized in societal responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Urgent calls for action highlight the need for integrated health and climate strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the critical roles and responsibilities of health professionals in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• To advocate for investment in health workforce capacity building for climate resilience.
• To provide a framework for health systems to address climate-related health threats.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of existing roles and responsibilities of clinical and public health professionals.
• Application of a preventive framework (primary, secondary, tertiary) to climate change impacts.
• Identification of essential components for workforce development and collaboration.

Main Results:

• Health professionals possess unique expertise vital for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• A preventive approach necessitates investment in health workforce education, training, and capacity building.
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing are key to addressing complex climate-health interactions.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced collaboration, knowledge sharing, and workforce capacity building are essential for health systems to combat climate change.
• A coordinated and deliberate approach is required to invest in health professionals' competence.
• This framework guides stakeholders in creating resilient and equitable health systems for a changing climate.