Ebook: Taking action against climate change will benefit health and advance health equity in the Americas

Cover
Contents
Foreword
Summary
Climate change is impacting health now
Climate change converges with and compounds other health crises
Climate change action will improve human health in the Americas
Health systems must coordinate with other sectors to adapt to climate change
Ambitious climate change mitigation can produce both immediate and long-term health benefits
Addressing equity and justice underpins effective climate change actions that improve health
Evidence-based recommendations support an emergency response to climate change
1: Introduction
1.1 Global climate change policies and their relevance to human health in the Americas
1.2 Climate change and inequity
1.3 The intersection of health crises in a global context
1.4 The role of this IANAS report in responding to climate change-related health risks
2: IANAS’ assessment approach
2.1 Building from and advancing previous climate change and health publications from national academies
2.2 The scope of this report
2.2.1 Evidence assessed in this report
2.2.2 Geographical scope of this report
2.3 Framework for IANAS’ inquiry
2.3.1 Defining risk related to climate change impacts on health
2.3.2 Cross-cutting themes for this report
3: How does climate change impact health?
3.1 The scope and scale of climate change health risks
3.2 Heat-related morbidity and mortality
3.2.1 How does climate change increase the risk of heat-related morbidity and mortality?
3.2.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality?
3.3 Air pollution-related illnesses
3.3.1 How does climate change increase the risk of air pollution-related illnesses?
3.3.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce the risk of air pollution-related illnesses?
3.4 Waterborne illnesses
3.4.1 How does climate change increase the risk of waterborne illnesses?
3.4.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses?
3.5 Foodborne illnesses
3.5.1 How does climate change increase the risk of foodborne illnesses?
3.5.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce foodborne illnesses?
3.6 Vector-borne illnesses
3.6.1 How does climate change increase the risk of vector-borne illnesses?
Mosquito-borne illnesses
Tick-borne diseases
Reduviid-vectored diseases
3.6.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce vector-borne illnesses?
3.7 Nutrition and food security
3.7.1 How does climate change increase the risk of undernutrition and food insecurity?
3.7.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce undernutrition and food insecurity?
3.8 Mental health and wellbeing
3.8.1 How does climate change impact mental health?
3.8.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce mental health risks?
3.9 Respiratory health
3.9.1 How does climate change increase the risk of respiratory illnesses?
Particulate matter and ozone
Aeroallergens
3.9.2 What adaptation and mitigation options are available to reduce respiratory health risks?
4: What are the overarching adaptation and mitigation response options?
4.1 Adaptation strategies, policies, and programs
4.1.1 Policy options for managing the health risks of climate change
Examples of health adaptation options
4.1.2 Indicators for assessing health adaptation
4.1.3 Coordinating health adaptation across scales and sectors
4.1.4 Limits to adaptation
4.1.5 Critical next steps for adaptation
4.2 Mitigation options
4.2.1 Health co-benefits
Coal phase-out has co-benefits for the environment and human health
Changing transportation systems have co-benefits for human health
Low emission diets can have co-benefits for human health
Decarbonizing the healthcare sector can improve and protect human health
Nature-based adaptation and mitigation solutions can have co-benefits for human health
Transforming cities to achieve net zero emissions can protect human health
4.2.2 Health benefits and trade-offs
Health benefits and trade-offs of energy-efficient buildings
Trade-offs in the food production and renewable energy sectors
4.2.3 How will socioeconomic development shape future scenarios?
4.3 On whom should decision-makers focus?
4.3.1 Aging populations
4.3.2 Children
4.3.3 Gender
4.3.4 Indigenous Peoples
4.3.5 Those living in challenging socioeconomic settings
4.3.6 Geographically vulnerable populations
4.4 Equity in all climate–health actions
1. Address issues of climate justice with respect to fair distributions and capabilities.
1. Address issues of climate justice with respect to fair distributions and capabilities.
2. Address issues of climate justice with respect to fair procedures and recognition.
5: What are this report’s conclusions and recommendations?
5.1 What do we know and why are we concerned?
5.2 Building and utilizing the evidence base
5.2.1 Engaging with the climate–health evidence base to shape policy
5.2.2 Synthesis of evidence and identification of knowledge gaps
More research is needed to project future climate–health impacts in the Americas
An increased focus on understudied health outcomes is needed
Additional research is needed to fill gaps in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America
More research is needed to connect climate change impacts with adaptation and mitigation options
Future research must be self-determined and led by vulnerable populations to address and prevent health inequities
5.2.3 The ongoing role of IANAS and other Academy networks
6: References