Health  risks  from  climate  change  that  are  mediated  by  social  factors    

 

Dr  Celia  McMichael  School  of  Geography  

The  University  of  Melbourne  

h?ps://toolkit.climate.gov/image/505  

HEALTH  IMPACTS  OF  CLIMATE  CHANGE  

PRIMARY  

SECONDARY  

TERTIARY  

MEN

TAL  HE

ALTH

 

Adapted  from  Butler  et  al.  (2014)  

Heatwaves,  disaster-­‐related  injuries/fataliWes    

InfecWous  and  water-­‐borne  disease,  allergies  

Food  insecurity,  populaWon  displacement  

Climate-­‐related  migra9on    

DRIVERS  OF  MIGRATION  

 

SOCIAL  

POLITICAL  

DEMOGRAPHIC   ENVIRONMENTAL  

ECONOMIC  

DECISION/  RESPONSE  

MIGRATE  

STAY  

Adapted  from  Foresight  (2011)  

Environment  and  climate-­‐related  migra9on  

•  Environmental  migraWon  ranges  from  ‘forced’  to  ‘voluntary’:    – forced  displacement  following  disaster  – planned  rese?lement/retreat  due  to  coastal  erosion  and  inundaWon    – internal  migraWon  in  response  to  altered/disrupted  ecosystem  services  

•  PopulaWon  health  impacts  will  be  defined  by  the  nature  of  migraWon.    

Forced  migraWon:    Dadaab  refugee  camp,  Kenya  

h?p://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/arWcle/19/6/13-­‐0275-­‐f1  

Projected  impact  of  climate  change  on  dengue  transmission  in  Dhaka,  Bangladesh  

Banu  et  al.  (2014)  

Planned  relocaWon  and  retreat,  Fiji  

Adverse  health  impacts?  •  mental  health,  water  and  

sanitaWon,  food  insecurity    Health  benefits?  •  reduced  exposure  to  

environmental  threats,  ‘building  back  be?er’  provides  opportunity  for  development  

CLIMATE  CHANGE,  HEALTH,  SOCIAL  AND  POLITICAL  MOBILISATION  

PoliWcal  acWon,  social  mobilisaWon  and  investment  are  required  to  address  populaWon  health  impacts  of  climate  change.  

References  •  Banu  S,  Hu  W,  Guo  Y,  Hurst  C,  Tong  S  (2014)  ProjecWng  the  impact  of  

climate  change  on  dengue  transmission  in  Dhaka,  Bangladesh,  Environment  Interna-onal  h?p://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arWcle/pii/S0160412013002626  

•  Butler  C.D,  Bowles  D.C.,  McIver  L.,  Page  L.  (2014)  Mental  health,  cogniWon  and  the  challenge  of  climate  change.  In:  Butler  C.D.,  editor.  Climate  Change  and  Global  Health.  CABI,  Wallingford,  UK  

 •  Foresight  (2011)  MigraWon  and  Global    Environmental  Change:  Future  

Challenges  and  OpportuniWes.  The  Government  Office  for  Science,  UK:  London  

 •  McMichael,  C.,  Barne?,  J.,  McMichael,  A.J.  (2012)  An  Ill  Wind?  Climate  

Change,  MigraWon,  and  Health  Environmental  Health  PerspecWves  120(5):  646-­‐654