Climate change and health: impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation

Kjellström, Tord; Weaver, Haylee J.

doi:10.1071/nb08053

Cited by 50 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…With climate warming, the impact of heat waves on general population morbidity and mortality risks has been extensively reported in temperate and tropical climates and in both urban and rural regions (Bai et al 2014;Berko et al 2014;Chung et al 2015;Kjellstrom and Weaver 2009;Yip et al 2008). Projections of climate change over the coming century suggest increasing incidences of heat-related mortality in both the general public and in occupational settings (Gubernot et al 2014;Jay and Kenny 2010;Kjellstrom et al 2013;Lundgren et al 2013;Xiang et al 2014).…”

Section: Future Projectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Cheung

Lee

Oksa

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

114

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Many physically demanding occupations in both developed and developing economies involve exposure to extreme thermal environments that can affect work capacity and ultimately health. Thermal extremes may be present in either an outdoor or an indoor work environment, and can be due to a combination of the natural or artificial ambient environment, the rate of metabolic heat generation from physical work, processes specific to the workplace (e.g., steel manufacturing), or through the requirement for protective clothing impairing heat dissipation. Together, thermal exposure can elicit acute impairment of work capacity and also chronic effects on health, greatly contributing to worker health risk and reduced productivity. Surprisingly, in most occupations even in developed economies, there are rarely any standards regarding enforced heat or cold safety for workers. Furthermore, specific physical employment standards or accommodations for thermal stressors are rare, with workers commonly tested under near-perfect conditions. This review surveys the major occupational impact of thermal extremes and existing employment standards, proposing guidelines for improvement and areas for future research.Key words: Heat stress, cold stress, occupational physiology, testing, work.Résumé : Plusieurs emplois physiquement exigeants dans les économies développées et en émergence s'exercent dans des milieux thermiques extrêmes qui peuvent affecter la capacité de travail et, en fin de compte, la santé. Ces milieux de condition thermique extrême se retrouvent dans des environnements de travail intérieur ou extérieur et peuvent découler d'une combinaison d'un milieu ambiant naturel ou artificiel, de la production de chaleur métabolique due au travail physique, des procédés spécifiques au milieu de travail (p. ex. fabrication de l'acier) ou du port obligatoire d'un équipement de protection s'opposant à la dissipation de la chaleur. Globalement, l'exposition à la chaleur peut diminuer ponctuellement la capacité de travail et générer des effets chroniques sur la santé, augmentant ainsi le risque de maladie chez le travailleur et la diminution de la productivité. Étonnamment, dans la plupart des emplois même dans les économies développées, il y a rarement, à propos du froid et de la chaleur, des normes de sécurité ou des règlements en vigueur à l'intention des travailleurs. De plus, rares sont les normes spécifiques aux tâches physiques ou les accommodations aux agents de stress thermique et les travailleurs sont généralement évalués dans des conditions presque parfaites. Cette analyse documentaire sonde les effets principaux des agents thermiques extrêmes sur les tâches physiques, fait le bilan des normes en vigueur en matière d'emploi, suggère des lignes directrices et des pistes pour des études ultérieures. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : stress thermique, stress dû au froid, physiologie du travail, évaluation, travail.

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Section: Future Projectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Cheung

Lee

Oksa

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

114

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“…Adaptation is defined as "adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities" [3] (p. 869). Farmers in developing countries apply different adaptation measures [4,5]. Some of these adaptation measures fall into the category of sustainable land management (SLM) practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Land Fragmentation Facilitating or Obstructing Adoption of Climate Adaptation Measures in Ethiopia?

et al. 2018

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Land fragmentation is high and increasing in the Gamo Highlands of southwest Ethiopia. We postulate that this substantial land fragmentation is obstructing the adoption of sustainable land management practices as climate adaptation measures. To explore this, a mixed method study was conducted with emphasis on a multivariate probit model. The results indicate that farmers adapt to climate change and variability they perceive. According to the probit model, there is no clear answer to the question whether land fragmentation facilitates or obstructs adoption of sustainable land management practices. Yet, a qualitative analysis found that farmers perceive land fragmentation as an obstacle to land improvement as adaptation strategy. Moreover, farmers invest more in land improvement on plots close to their homestead than in remote plots. However, the higher land fragmentation also promoted crop diversification, manure application and terracing. Although exogenous to farmers, we therefore suggest that land fragmentation can be deployed in climate change adaptation planning. This can be done through voluntary assembling of small neighboring plots in clusters of different microclimates to encourage investment in remote fields and to collectively optimize the benefits of fragmentation to adaptation.

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“…by increasing the range and prevalence of pathogenic agents associated with water-and vector-borne diseases such as cholera and dengue fever); and indirect impacts (e.g. loss of livelihood among outdoor/manual workers whose income depends on high levels of physical activity; Lipp, Huq, and Colwell 2002;WHO 2003;Patz et al 2005;Kovats and Akhtar 2008;Kjellstrom and Weaver 2009;Friel et al 2011b). Table 1 also demonstrates that the greatest burden of heat-related health mortality and morbidity will be felt among urban slum dwellers, low socio-economic groups and minority ethnic groups (Friel et al 2011b).…”

Section: Understanding Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Urbanisation, climate change and health equity: how can health promotion contribute?

Patrick

Noy

Henderson‐Wilson

2015

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

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We live in a world that is constantly changing and is challenging established approaches to managing human and ecological health. Two key drivers of change are urbanisation and global climate change. This commentary is concerned with the interrelationship of these drivers with human and ecological health, proposing that health promotion practitioners need to actively seek a new role in the process of creating urban environments that support social and ecological well-being. It provides practitioners with an up-to-date synthesis of climate change science and future projections, the literature around the health impacts of climate change and potential health challenges to urban communities. We argue that health promotion cannot respond to the challenges created by climate change and urbanisation, nor can it meet its own mandate without shifting from an anthropogenic-focussed approach toward embracing a multi-scale, collaborative approach outside the health sector. We suggest that the underlying principles of health promotion, which include equity and community engagement at all scales, are critical to the evolution of thriving urban environments. Food security is given as an example to demonstrate the proposed shift away from an anthropogenic and urban focus toward a socio-ecological approach (i.e. resilience thinking) that provides a framework for collaboration between sectors working with unpredictable global systems. In so doing, the commentary provides practitioners with guidance on the complex science of climate change and its impact on health in urban settings, as well as highlighting the skills that they can bring to creating resilient urban settlements in these times of change.

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Climate change and health: impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation

Cited by 50 publications

References 40 publications

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Is Land Fragmentation Facilitating or Obstructing Adoption of Climate Adaptation Measures in Ethiopia?

Urbanisation, climate change and health equity: how can health promotion contribute?

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