Climate Change and Health in Urban Areas with a Mediterranean Climate: A Conceptual Framework with a Social and Climate Justice Approach

Abstract

The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident and highlight the important interdependence between the well-being of people and ecosystems. Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its causes and consequences vary dramatically across territories and population groups. Among settings particularly susceptible to health impacts from climate change are cities with a Mediterranean climate. Here, impacts will put additional pressure on already-stressed ecosystems and vulnerable economies and societies, increasing health inequalities. Therefore, this article presents and discusses a conceptual framework for understanding the complex relationship between climate change and health in the context of cities with Mediterranean climate from a social and climate justice approach. The different elements that integrate the conceptual framework are: (1) the determinants of climate change; (2) its environmental and social consequences; (3) its direct and indirect impacts on health; and (4) the role of mitigation and adaptation policies. The model places special emphasis on the associated social and health inequalities through (1) the recognition of the role of systems of privilege and oppression; (2) the distinction between structural and intermediate determinants of climate change at the root of health inequalities; (3) the role of individual and collective vulnerability in mediating the effects of climate change on health; and (4) the need to act from a climate justice perspective to reverse health inequities.

Analyzing Urban Climatic Shifts in Annaba City: Decadal Trends, Seasonal Variability and Extreme Weather Events

“…The analysis of extreme weather events in Annaba city revealed a noticeable warming trend in Annaba city, with prolonged extreme climate conditions observed particularly during July, as well as significant shifts in temperature dynamics and increased urban temperatures attributed to the urban heat island effect. This warming trend is consistent with global climate change patterns observed worldwide, aligning with different climates [12,15,60,61]. The increase in temperatures over the recent four-year span from 2020 to 2023, and the projected warming trend from 2024 to 2029, globally suggest a significant shift in climate dynamics in the Mediterranean region, which is already found in previous studies [62,63].…”

The Badolo HealthResilience Scientific Framework for health system resilience roadmaps

“…Several studies on health systems resilience to climate change are proposed in the scienti c literature [6,8,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. The results presented in this article take into account these studies but present important singularities.…”

Impact of drought on mental and behavioral disorders, contributions of research in a climate change context. A narrative review

“…Drought is considered a psychological stressor (Yusa et al 2015 ; US climate resilience toolkit 2019 ) and even just the threat of climate change and its expected consequences, including drought, are important psychological and emotional stressors (Marí-Dell'Olmo et al 2022 ; Dodgen et al 2016 ), especially for the younger population, that report, among others, feelings of sadness and anxiousness that affect their daily life (Hickman et al 2021 ). Moreover, important hormonal and metabolic pathways related to chronic psychological stress can affect human health (Epel 2009 ).…”

“…The detrimental impact of droughts on human health, other than mental health, has been evidenced by several studies that have found significant associations with cardiovascular problems (Berman et al 2017 ), respiratory problems (Yusa et al 2015 ), cancer (Stanke et al 2013 ) increased risk of certain infectious diseases (Yusa et al 2015 ; Stanke et al 2013 ; Salvador et al 2020a ) and mortality from different causes (Berman et al 2017 ; Salvador et al 2020a ; Salvador et al 2020b ; Salvador et al 2020c ; Salvador et al 2021 ). Moreover, extreme temperatures, that are related to droughts, have additionally been associated to worsening of cerebral and gastrointestinal diseases, to diabetes and to renal disorders (Marí-Dell'Olmo et al 2022 ).…”