Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change: Challenges, Opportunities and Evidence Gaps

Abstract

Climate change presents significant challenges to human health and biodiversity. Increased numbers of extreme climate events, such as heat waves, droughts or flooding, threaten human health and well-being, both directly and indirectly, through impaired ecosystem functioning and reduced ecosystem services. In addition, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is rising, causing ill health and accelerating costs to the health sector. Nature-based solutions, such as the provision and management of biodiversity, can facilitate human health and well-being, and mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The growing recognition of the importance of biodiversity's contribution to human health offers great potential for maximising synergies between public health, climate change adaptation and nature

Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

“…The European conference in Bonn brought together 220 experts from science, policy and practice to highlight and discuss the importance of biodiversity's positive contribution to human health in the face of climate change (Marselle et al 2018). Indirect negative impacts of climate change on human health (e.g.…”

Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change: Perspectives for Science, Policy and Practice

“…In this next section we identify 30 specific recommendations for research, policy and practice. These suggestions arise from those presented by the authors of this book, and incorporate recommendations debated by the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA) interest group on climate change at the European conference on 'Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change' held on 27-29 June 2017 in Bonn, Germany (Marselle et al 2018).…”

“…In this concluding chapter, we synthesize the main results from the chapters and link them to current policy developments on a European and a global scale. Based on the evidence provided in this volume and drawing from the recommendations of the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA) derived from the European conference 'Biodiversity and Health in the face of climate change -Challenges, Opportunities and Evidence Gaps' (Marselle et al 2018), we develop recommendations to address the urgent health and sustainability challenges in science, policy and practice.…”

Global Developments: Policy Support for Linking Biodiversity, Health and Climate Change

“…In 2017, the WHO also co-sponsored the international conference "Biodiversity and Health in the face of climate change -Challenges, Opportunities and Evidence Gaps" (Marselle et al 2018), which was organised by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA), and which led to formal ENCA recommendations that are further elaborated on in the concluding chapter of this volume (Marselle et al Chap. 20).…”