Climate vulnerability and global health—How are we responding?

Climate change is already having dramatic effects on human health and well-being. How are we adapting to these new realities and mitigating health risks for the world’s most vulnerable communities? The Center for Global Health Equity’s 2023-2024 distinguished seminar series will engage global experts who are responding to these challenges. Join our conversations and explore emerging solutions for protecting health in the face of climate change.

Featured speakers:

Larissa Larsen, Urban and Regional Planning, U-M

Jai Das, Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University

Marie O’Neill, Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, U-M

About the lecture series

This lecture was part of the Center for Global Health Equity's annual  Distinguished Seminar Series for the 2023-2024 academic year. This year, the series' topic is Climate Vulnerability and Health—How are we Responding?

This lecture was co-sponsored by the International Institute, the Office of Global Health in the School of Public Health, and Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

‍

Submitted questions

What works is being done to ensure that solutions are actually beneficial, especially when it comes to interventions like grass and other vegetation that can be harmful?

LL: There is a lot of research out there on the impacts of vegetation and different types of vegetation. As was mentioned in the session, shading adds to vegetation’s other good qualities. I am going to share an article I wrote (and Marie was part of!) just to get you started, titled Safe at Home? in the Journal of American Planning Association.

Do heat action plans have a significant impact? In what way can that impact be judged?

JD: There have been a few studies which have investigated its effect and how it has better informed and helped populations be better prepared.  

Are there concerns related to funding climate change-related mitigation research efforts in the LMICs?

LL: My concerns relate to 1) selecting cultural/site appropriate intervention strategies (so involve local people in selecting the strategies, 2) not adding to the climate problem by requiring these interventions to run on electricity (such as AC) from fossil fuel sources  and 3) collecting data is a way that can be shared to permit We need to test different site/building interventions but we need to collect our data so we can do cross-site comparisons.  

When discussing possible solutions for extreme heat, are there additional considerations or different solutions for events with high heat + humidity?

LL: Something of concern in humid environments is how mold may reduce indoor air quality. I am not well versed in the ‘mold’ and indoor air quality areas but I think humidity will amplify problems.

How do we both investigate and call attention to the sometimes more hidden impacts - especially when informing for policy change?

LL: It’s tough to assign a value to ‘well-being’ and ‘health’. However, one way of making a compelling case that policy makers listen to - could use lost productivity measures. In the US, OSHA is working on adding standards for outdoor workers - but many employers don’t relieve ‘standards’ such as providing shade and a regular water break’ exist.

What are your perspectives on current and future climate migration and transition of habitable areas away from coastlines and equator?

LL: This is a big topic and I could talk all day and would need to know your area of interest….I would share Gaia Vance’s piece from the Guardian (which is a condensed version of her book, Nomad Century.

Is there any evidence of a link between increased heat in the environment and mental illnesses?

JD: Yes, there is evidence and more is emerging on the impact on mental health from floods, heat, glacier melting, etc.

What impacts have you seen arising from flooding?

LL: Honestly, I am very worried about saltwater intrusion into drinking wells in coastal areas.

Why does the literature seem to only focus on urban areas instead of rural areas?

LL: I agree rural locations are important - I am originally from a farm! I have three reasons. !) I have focused on urban areas because they experience elevated temperatures due to the Urban Heat Island (some we create with building materials, loss of vegetation, altered ventilation corridors, and waste heat from cars and industrial sources. So the UHI further exacerbates increased temperatures from climate change in cities and this is something we create so we should lessen its impact by altering how we plan, design, and build cities. 2) Also urban areas have higher populations - so part of the thinking is serving more people. 3) I find it easier to find colleagues to work with in urban locations. I am not saying any of these reasons are right and we probably need to take more opportunities to critically think about where we work/study and why.

What are some promising strategies or interventions for preventing heat-related illnesses and protecting public health during extreme heat events?

LL: Early people built with local materials and in ways that responded to their local context. These are effective passive strategies and we need to revisit/remember the wisdom of their ways. For good case study examples - go to (C40 website of city level efforts).

JD: Also, minor modifications to the existing structure like window shading, improving ventilation, reflective paint, etc. could have results.

How have you been utilizing climate information and climate information services in your work?

JD: We capture hospital based data and are using it in improving climate friendly and resilient health systems.

Could any of you speak about the severity of the consequences of extreme heat globally? How do we convince policy makers that this is a priority?

LL: Unlike flooding, hurricanes, and wildfires, you can’t see heat. It is a sensation that people can perceive differently. Also, acclimatization can occur and increase an individual’s tolerance to higher temperatures (to a point). There is an effort to name heat events (like we name hurricanes) to help communicate their severity/importance. I think citing examples (1995 - 700 plus people died in Chicago when a heat wave and power outage occurred simultaneously) is helpful. Finding an example of a devastating heat wave from your area can be an effective strategy.

Do you know of any government examples that have incorporated these solutions in their policies/regulations?

LL: For good case study examples - go to https://www.c40.org/ (C40 website of city level efforts)

How keen and able are communities (in LMICs) to change their behavior to adapt to extreme heat?

LL: In North America, we need to ‘encourage’ better behavior through incentive programs and charges/fees. That gets more attention but it is tough to do politically.  You correctly note the injustice of climate change - this is where we need stronger global conversations (contractions and convergence) and have the wealthy nations help the poorer nations ‘leap-frog’ over the dirty technology used in the global north.

JD: I would agree. There is a greater need for mobilization and incentivization is one strategy and we are testing this as part for our new trial which is working around mitigating the effects of extreme heat.