Public Health Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation in Three Cities: A Qualitative Study

Gloria Macassa (), Ana Isabel Ribeiro, Anneli Marttila, Frida Stål, José Pedro Silva, Michelle Rydback, Mamunur Rashid and Henrique Barros
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Gloria Macassa: Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Ana Isabel Ribeiro: EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Anneli Marttila: Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Frida Stål: Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
José Pedro Silva: EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Michelle Rydback: Department of Business and Economic Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Mamunur Rashid: Department of Public Health and Sports Science, Faculty of Occupational and Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Kungsbacksvägen 47, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Henrique Barros: EPIUnit–Instituto de Saude Publica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: Climate change presents an unprecedented public health challenge as it has a great impact on population health outcomes across the global population. The key to addressing these health challenges is adaptation carried out in cities through collaboration between institutions, including public health ones. Through semi-structured interviews ( n = 16), this study investigated experiences and perceptions of what public health aspects are considered by urban and public health planners and researchers when planning climate change adaptation in the coastal cities of Söderhamn (Sweden), Porto (Portugal) and Navotas (the Philippines). Results of the thematic analysis indicated that participating stakeholders were aware of the main climate risks threatening their cities (rising water levels and flooding, extreme temperatures, and air pollution). In addition, the interviewees talked about collaboration with other sectors, including the public health sector, in implementing climate change adaptation plans. However, the inclusion of the public health sector as a partner in the process was identified in only two cities, Navotas and Porto. Furthermore, the study found that there were few aspects pertaining to public health (water and sanitation, prevention of heat-related and water-borne diseases, and prevention of the consequences associated with heat waves in vulnerable groups such as children and elderly persons) in the latest climate change adaptation plans posted on each city’s website. Moreover, participants pointed to different difficulties: insufficient financial resources, limited intersectoral collaboration for climate change adaptation, and lack of involvement of the public health sector in the adaptation processes, especially in one of the cities in which climate change adaptation was solely the responsibility of the urban planners. Studies using larger samples of stakeholders in larger cities are needed to better understand why the public health sector is still almost absent in efforts to adapt to climate change.

Keywords: climate change adaptation; public health; Söderhamn; Porto; Navotas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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