Climate Justice and One Health Adaptation Policies in Public Health and Disaster Medicine

Climate change is intensifying public health risks and placing increasing pressure on disaster medicine systems. These challenges require adaptation strategies that incorporate climate justice principles and the One Health framework.

This scoping review aimed to examine how climate justice and One Health principles are incorporated into public health and disaster medicine adaptation policies.

A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guideline using major scientific databases (Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science) and global health organization resources published between 01 January 2005 and 31 October 2025. Critical appraisal of included evidence was assessed using design‑specific tools: the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for systematic reviews and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for mixed‑methods studies. Data were synthesized to assess the degree of public health engagement in climate adaptation and the incorporation of climate justice and One Health principles.

Out of a total of 19,835 records, eight eligible studies were included. The eight studies comprised six review articles and two mixed‑methods studies, with geographic coverage, including Pakistan, the United States, Greece and multi‑country or global analyses. Findings reveal persistent inequities in climate-related health impacts, particularly among marginalized and resource-limited populations. Health sector participation in national adaptation plans remains limited, with policies often fragmented, mitigation-oriented or insufficiently aligned with One Health principles. Structural inequalities, weak governance, gender disparities and limited multisector coordination hinder equitable adaptation. Climate stressors, including extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases and environmental degradation, disproportionately affect communities with the lowest adaptive capacity.

There is an urgent need for standardized vulnerability assessment frameworks, stronger multisector collaboration, improved early-warning systems and enhanced capacity building through international public health institutions.