Climate change, cash transfers and health

Abstract

The forecast consequences of climate change on human health are profound, especially in low- and middle-income countries and among the most disadvantaged populations. Innovative policy tools are needed to address the adverse health effects of climate change. Cash transfers are established policy tools for protecting population health before, during and after climate-related disasters. For example, the Ethiopian Productive Safety Net Programme provides cash transfers to reduce food insecurity resulting from droughts. We propose extending cash transfer interventions to more proactive measures to improve health in the context of climate change. We identify promising cash transfer schemes that could be used to prevent the adverse health consequences of climatic hazards. Cash transfers for using emission-free, active modes of transport – e.g. cash for cycling to work – could prevent future adverse health consequences by contributing to climate change mitigation and, at the same time, improving current population health. Another example is cash transfers provided to communities that decide to move to areas in which their lives and health are not threatened by climatic disasters. More research on such interventions is needed to ensure that they are effective, ethical, equitable and cost–effective.

Impact of conditional and unconditional cash transfers on health outcomes and use of health services in humanitarian settings: a mixed-methods systematic review

“…Previous studies and systematic reviews have demonstrated the benefits of cash interventions on mitigating the health impacts from climate change, improving nutrition and advancing maternal health if markets are functional and quality services are available 7–9. Likewise cash transfers can improve outcomes by increasing consumption of nutritious foods as well as access to preventative care and vaccinations 10–12.…”

Impact of cash transfers on the association between prenatal exposures to high temperatures and low birthweight: Retrospective analysis from the LEAP 1000 study

“…Hence, poverty alleviation programmes are promising avenues to increase population‐level resilience through reductions in vulnerabilities 52 . CTs effectively address key social determinants of health, 53 enabling families to be proactive against the direct and indirect effects of heat stress on health 54 . CTs have been shown to improve food security, nutrition, and dietary diversity, enhance women's empowerment, and increase use of healthcare services, including delivery in health facilities 55,56 .…”

The OCCHLTH Mnemonic—Construction and Content of a Tool for Increasing Awareness of Occupational Illness and Injury

“…An additional resource that has relevance to the clinical setting is from the World Health Organization and International Labor Organization (WHO/ILO), which has published pairs of selected workplace exposures and associated outcome pairings important for mortality related to occupational illnesses and injuries 203,204 . This includes the association of asbestos with cancers of the trachea, bronchus, lung, ovary, larynx, and mesothelioma 204 .…”