Health Aspects of Climate Change in Cities with Mediterranean Climate, and Local Adaptation Plans

Shlomit Paz, Maya Negev, Alexandra Clermont and Manfred S. Green
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Shlomit Paz: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Maya Negev: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Alexandra Clermont: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Kibbutz Ketura, D.N. Hevel Eilot 88840, Israel
Manfred S. Green: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Cities with a Mediterranean-type climate (Med-cities) are particularly susceptible to health risks from climate change since they are located in biogeographical hot-spots that experience some of the strongest effects of the changing climate. The study aims to highlight health impacts of climate change in Med-cities, analyze local climate adaptation plans and make adaptation policy recommendations for the Med-city level. We identified five Med-cities with a climate change adaptation plan: Adelaide, Barcelona, Cape Town, Los Angeles and Santiago. Beyond their similar Med-climate features (although Santiago’s are slightly different), the cities have different socio-economic characteristics in various aspects. We analyzed each plan according to how it addresses climate change-related drivers of health impacts among city dwellers. For each driver, we identified the types of policy adaptation tools that address it in the urban climate adaptation plans. The surveyed cities address most of the fundamental climate change-related drivers of risks to human health, including rising temperatures, flooding and drought, but the policy measures to reduce negative impacts vary across cities. We suggest recommendations for Med-cities in various aspects, depending on their local needs and vulnerability challenges: assessment of health risks, extreme events management and long-term adaptation, among others.

Keywords: climate change; adaptation; cities; Mediterranean climate; climate action plans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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