When it comes to climate-smart health, there’s no time to wait and debate. Some 3.6 billion people — around half the world’s population — live in places that are highly vulnerable to climate change. Too many of those most at risk from climate disasters — such as extreme temperatures, drought, flooding and sea level rise — and their negative impacts on health live in low- and middle-income countries.
“Climate challenges, from extreme weather events to the increased spread of vector-borne diseases, highlight the urgent need for robust and resilient health care systems,” says Nujpanit (Jom) Narkpitaks, environment and climate change director at FHI 360.
Addressing these health inequities requires comprehensive action that meaningfully engages local communities, Indigenous peoples, women, and other marginalized groups for inclusive preparation before and response during and after a climate disaster.
“Whilst we look longer term to developing a greener and healthier world, we have to look also to shorter-term adaptation in communities around the world to prevent unnecessary suffering and deaths from a changing climate,” says Bob Fryatt, international health lead at Mott MacDonald.
To adapt to the level of warming we are already seeing, we must build the resilience of health care systems and combat health inequities. Together with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Mott MacDonald, the UK Health Security Agency and Wolfe Global, our team at FHI 360 has developed a policy brief that outlines key steps that communities, policymakers, health professionals, and researchers and academics must take to address pressing health inequities around climate change-driven disasters.
“Our goal is to cultivate climate disaster–resilient and equitable health care systems that benefit everyone,” says Narkpitaks.
