Authors

Pauline F D Scheelbeek, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Alan D. Dangour, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Stephanie Jarmul, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Grace Turner, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Anne J. Sietsma, University of Leeds
Jan C. Minx, University of Leeds
Max Callaghan, Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change
Idowu Ajibade, Portland State UniversityFollow
Stephanie E. Austin, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-Weiden
Robbert Biesbroek, Wageningen University and Research Centre
Kathryn J. Bowen, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Tara Chen, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Katy Davis, University of Leeds, Priestley International Centre for Climate, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Tim Ensor, University of Leeds, Priestley International Centre for Climate, Leeds, United Kingdom.
James D. Ford, University of Leeds, Priestley International Centre for Climate, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Eranga K. Galappaththi, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Elphin T. Joe, World Resources Institute, New Delh, India.
Issah J. Musah-Surugu, United Nations University Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Gabriela Nagle Alverio, Nicholas School of the Environment, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Pratik Pokharel, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Eunice A. Salubi, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Giulia Scarpa, University of Leeds, Priestley International Centre for Climate, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Alcade C. Segnon, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bamako, Mali.
Mariella Siña, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
Sienna Templeman, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America.
Jiren Xu, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
Lea Berrang-Ford, University of Leeds, Priestley International Centre for Climate, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Published In

Environmental Research Letters : ERL [web Site]

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-13-2021

Subjects

Climatic changes -- Research, Greenhouse gases -- Research

Abstract

Climate change adaptation responses are being developed and delivered in many parts of the world in the absence of detailed knowledge of their effects on public health. Here we present the results of a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature reporting the effects on health of climate change adaptation responses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The review used the 'Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative' database (comprising 1682 publications related to climate change adaptation responses) that was constructed through systematic literature searches in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar (2013-2020). For this study, further screening was performed to identify studies from LMICs reporting the effects on human health of climate change adaptation responses. Studies were categorised by study design and data were extracted on geographic region, population under investigation, type of adaptation response and reported health effects. The review identified 99 studies (1117 reported outcomes), reporting evidence from 66 LMICs. Only two studies were formal evaluations of climate change adaptation responses. Papers reported adaptation responses related to flooding, rainfall, drought and extreme heat, predominantly through behaviour change, and infrastructural and technological improvements. Reported (direct and intermediate) health outcomes included reduction in infectious disease incidence, improved access to water/sanitation and improved food security. All-cause mortality was rarely reported, and no papers were identified reporting on maternal and child health. Reported maladaptations were predominantly related to widening of inequalities and unforeseen co-harms. Reporting and publication-bias seems likely with only 3.5% of all 1117 health outcomes reported to be negative. Our review identified some evidence that climate change adaptation responses may have benefits for human health but the overall paucity of evidence is concerning and represents a major missed opportunity for learning. There is an urgent need for greater focus on the funding, design, evaluation and standardised reporting of the effects on health of climate change adaptation responses to enable evidence-based policy action.

Rights

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd

DOI

10.1088/1748-9326/ac092c

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/36066

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