1st Edition

Climate Information for Public Health Action

Edited By Madeleine C. Thomson, Simon J. Mason Copyright 2018
    272 Pages 37 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    272 Pages 37 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Policy-makers are increasingly concerned about the impact of climate variability and change on the health of vulnerable populations. Variations and trends in climatic factors and extreme weather events impact many health outcomes, including malaria, heat stress and undernutrition.  

    Climate Information for Public Health Action is based on the premise that climate knowledge and information can help protect the public from climate-sensitive health risks. With a focus on infectious disease, hydro-meteorological disasters and nutrition, the book explores why, when and how data on the historical, current and future (from days to decades) climate can be incorporated into health decision-making. Created as a collaborative effort between climate and health experts, this book targets a broad technical public health community, alongside development practitioners and policy-makers engaged in climate change adaptation. It may also guide climate experts in the development of climate services tailored to health needs. Written in an accessible, informative style, while maintaining the highest technical and scientific standards, it will also be a valuable resource for students and academics studying and working in the emerging field of environment and health.

    The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.tandfebooks.com/doi/view/10.4324/9781315115603, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license."

    Foreword

    By Elena Manaenkova

    Chapter 1: Health Priorities in a Changing Climate

    Madeleine C. Thomson, Tamer Samah Rabie, Joy Shumake-Guillemot, John McDermott, Wilmot James and Chadia Wannous

    Chapter 2: Climate Impacts on Disasters, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition

    Madeleine C. Thomson

    Contributors: Delia Grace, Ruth DeFries, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Hannah Nissan and Alessandra Giannini

    Chapter 3: Connecting Climate Information with Health Outcomes

    Madeleine C. Thomson, C. Jessica E. Metcalf and Simon Mason

    Contributors: Adrian M. Tompkins and Mary Hayden

    Chapter 4: Climate Basics

    Simon J. Mason

    Contributors: Madeleine C. Thomson

    Chapter 5: Climate Variability and Trends: Drivers

    Simon J. Mason

    Contributors: Ángel G. Muñoz, Bradfield Lyon and Madeleine C. Thomson

    Chapter 6: Climate Data: The Past and Present

    Simon J. Mason, Pietro Ceccato and Chris D. Hewitt

    Contributors: Theodore L. Allen, Tufa Dinku, Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Asher B. Siebert, Michelle Stanton, Madeleine C. Thomson

    Chapter 7: Weather Forecasts: Up to One Week in Advance

    Simon J. Mason and Madeleine C. Thomson

    Contributors: Heat Action Group, Kim Knowlton, Hannah Nissan, Ángel G. Muñoz, Carlos Perez Garcia-Pando and Jeffrey Shaman

    Chapter 8: Climate Forecasts for Early Warning: Up to Six Months in Advance

    Simon J. Mason

    Contributors: Madeleine C. Thomson and Ángel G. Muñoz

    Chapter 9: Climate information for adaptation: From Years to Decades

    Hannah Nissan, Madeleine C. Thomson, Simon J. Mason, Ángel G. Muñoz

    Contributors: Glynn Vale, John W. Hargrove, Arthur M. Greene and Bradfield Lyon.

    Chapter 10: Climate Information for Public Health Action: Challenges and Opportunities

    Madeleine C. Thomson and Simon J. Mason

    Contributors: John del Corral, Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Gilma Mantilla and Cristina Li

     

    Biography

    Madeleine C. Thomson is a Senior Research Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Earth Institute, and a Senior Scholar at the Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, at Columbia University, USA.

    Simon J. Mason is Chief Climate Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Earth Institute, at Columbia University, USA.

    'Hotter, drier times, more severe (CAT-5) hurricanes and inundations are among the unfolding climate-induced changes for Caribbean SIDS. This book sets out the global context; a treasure trove of sound science, joined-up analyses and recommendations; a must-read for any thoughtful health professional concerned about the health of people and the planet.' -- C. James Hospedales, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Trinidad and Tobago

    'This book is a great resource for anyone interested in the rising risks to human health in a changing climate – it provides an in-depth look at what information can help us to understand past, present and future risks, for better decisions and better outcomes.' — Maarten van Aalst, Director, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, The Netherlands

    'At last, an informative reference book for practitioners in the growing discipline of climate and health! Drawing from a wealth of experience, Madeleine Thomson, Simon Mason and colleagues provide a useful background and guide for policy, as well as climate and health practitioners, to understand and mitigate climate impacts on the health of the most vulnerable populations.' Judy Omumbo, Programme Manager, Affiliates and Post-Doctoral Programmes, African Academy of Sciences, Kenya

    'This book delves deep into relationships between health and climate variables and the data necessary to adapt to a warming world. For those who work in nutrition, it is a must-read, as food systems and diets garnered from those systems are, and will be, impacted by climate change.' — Jessica Fanzo, Director of the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program, Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report, Johns Hopkins University, USA

    'Climate Information for Public Health Action provides health professionals with critical insights into the weather and climate variables that can affect major causes of ill-health. Using this knowledge will improve the validity and robustness of research, and inform implementation of effective policies and programs to prepare for and manage these risks in a changing climate.' — Kristie L. Ebi, Director, Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, USA

    'Almost all strategic goals in sustainable development include health and climate as they both have a prevailing influence on human wellbeing. If you are looking to understand how climate variability and change generate and exacerbate health threats; or innovative, practical ways to address them, this is the book for you.' -- Cheikh Mbow, Executive Director, START International, Washington D.C., USA