Scoping Review of Climate Change Adaptation Interventions for Health: Implications for Policy and Practice

Nicholas Brink (), Kehkashan Mansoor, Joost Swiers, Darshnika P. Lakhoo, Craig Parker, Britt Nakstad, Shobna Sawry, Kristin Aunan, Ilona M. Otto and Matthew F. Chersich
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Nicholas Brink: Wits Planetary Health Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Kehkashan Mansoor: Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Joost Swiers: Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Darshnika P. Lakhoo: Wits Planetary Health Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Craig Parker: Wits Planetary Health Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Britt Nakstad: Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Botswana, Gabarone UB 0022, Botswana
Shobna Sawry: Wits RHI, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Kristin Aunan: Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Ilona M. Otto: Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Matthew F. Chersich: Wits Planetary Health Research, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Climate change is among the greatest threats to health in the 21st century, requiring the urgent scaling-up of adaptation interventions. We aim to summarise adaptation interventions that were funded by the Belmont Forum and the European Union, the largest global funders of climate change and health research. A systematic search was conducted (updated February 2023) to identify articles on adaptation interventions for health within this funding network. The data extracted included study characteristics, types of interventions, and study outcomes. The results were synthesised narratively within the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A total of 197 articles were screened, with 37 reporting on adaptation interventions. The majority of interventions focused on the general population (n = 17), with few studies examining high-risk populations such as pregnant women and children (n = 4) or migrants (n = 0). Targeted interventions were mostly aimed at behavioural change (n = 8) and health system strengthening (n = 6), while interventions with mitigation co-benefits such as nature-based solutions (n = 1) or the built environment (n = 0) were limited. The most studied climate change hazard was extreme heat (n = 26). Several studies reported promising findings, principally regarding interventions to counter heat impacts on workers and pregnant women and improving risk awareness in communities. These findings provide a platform on which to expand research and public health interventions for safeguarding public health from the effects of climate change.

Keywords: climate change; adaptation interventions; health policy; scoping review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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