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Special Issue "Global Climate Change and Public Health"

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2023 | Viewed by 13561

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Dr. Antonia Kaltsatou

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FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Interests: exercise physiology; clinical exercise physiology; environmental physiology; cooling therapy; heat stress
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Dear Colleagues,

Undoubtedly, climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, with enormous consequences for humanity. Rising temperatures have been observed all over the world considerably and have become a growing challenge for our community. Problems are already experienced by millions of people during the summertime and aggravated during heat waves, particularly in occupational settings. The Special Issue of IJERPH aims to contribute to our understanding of how climate change and different environmental factors impact human health, especially patients with chronic conditions who are consistently the most vulnerable population to heat exposure. All topics related to climate change and health are welcome. In addition to original research, we also welcome the submission of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, as well as manuscripts dealing with research methodologies and data processing. By building on previous research and expanding our knowledge on how different environmental factors impact human health, this Special Issue will enhance our understanding of how climate change affects public health.

Dr. Antonia Kaltsatou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

climate change
health
heat-waves
heat-stress
cooling therapy
occupational health
chronic diseases

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Thermal Stress in Korea Using Climate-Based Indicators: Present-Day and Future Projections from 1 km High Resolution Scenarios

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(17), 6694; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176694 - 31 Aug 2023

Viewed by 714

Abstract

Among the various thermal stress indices, apparent temperature (AT) is closely related to public health indicators, and consequently is widely used by weather agencies around the world. Therefore, in this paper we estimate the changes in AT and contributing components in Korea as a whole and in five major cities (Seoul, Gwanju, Daegu, Daejeon, and Busan) using national standard climate scenarios based on the coupled model inter-comparison project (CMIP6). In the present day, high AT occurs in major cities due to high temperature (TAS) and relative humidity (RH). Our findings reveal that even when TAS is relatively low, large AT occurs with higher humidity. Notably, in future warmer climate conditions, high AT may first appear in the five major cities and then extend to the surrounding areas. An increase in TAS and RH during the pre-hot season (March to June) may lead to earlier occurrence of thermal risks in future warmer climate conditions and more frequent occurrence of high thermal stress events. Our study can serve as a reference for future information on thermal risk changes in Korea. Considering those who have not adapted to high temperature environments, our findings imply that thermal risks will become more serious and that heat adaptation strategies will be needed during the pre-hot season under future warmer climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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16 pages, 416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Intersection of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2021 Heat Dome in Canadian Digital News Media: A Content Analysis

Emily J. Tetzlaff

Nicholas Goulet

Melissa Gorman

Gregory R. A. Richardson

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Glen P. Kenny

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(17), 6674; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176674 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1335

Abstract

During the 2021 Heat Dome, 619 people in British Columbia died due to the heat. This public health disaster was made worse by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Few studies have explored the intersection of heat with COVID-19, and none in Canada. Considering that climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme heat events, it is important to improve our understanding of intersecting public health crises. Thus, this study aimed to explore media-based public health communication in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Heat Dome. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on a subset of media articles (n = 520) related to the COVID-19 pandemic which were identified through a previous media analysis on the 2021 Heat Dome (n = 2909). Many of the articles provided conflicting health messages that may have confused the public about which health protective actions to take. The articles also showed how the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the health impacts of the 2021 Heat Dome, as pandemic-related public health measures may have deterred people away from protecting themselves from heat. This study, which provides novel insight into the prioritization of public health messaging when an extreme heat event occurs concurrently with a pandemic, supports the need for consistent heat health guidance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

16 pages, 7150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Impact of Heatwaves on Emergency Ambulance Calls in Queensland: A Retrospective Population-Based Study

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4875; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064875 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2022

Abstract

Heatwaves are a significant and growing threat to the health and well-being of the residents of Queensland, Australia. This threat is increasing due to climate change. Excess heat increases the demand for health services, including ambulance calls, and the purpose of this study was to explore this impact across Queensland. A state-wide retrospective analysis of heatwaves and emergency ‘Triple Zero’ (000) calls to Queensland Ambulance (QAS) from 2010–2019 was undertaken. Call data from the QAS and heatwave data from the Bureau of Meteorology were analysed using a case-crossover approach at the postcode level. Ambulance calls increased by 12.68% during heatwaves. The effect was greatest during low-severity heatwaves (22.16%), followed by severe (14.32%) and extreme heatwaves (1.16%). The impact varied by rurality, with those living in very remote areas and major cities most impacted, along with those of low and middle socioeconomic status during low and severe intensity heat events. Lag effects post-heatwave continued for at least 10 days. Heatwaves significantly increase ambulance call centre workload, so ambulance services must actively prepare resources and personnel to address increases in heatwave frequency, duration, and severity. Communities must be informed of the risks of heatwaves at all severities, particularly low severity, and the sustained risks in the days following a heat event. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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21 pages, 7391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mean Temperature and Drought Projections in Central Africa: A Population-Based Study of Food Insecurity, Childhood Malnutrition and Mortality, and Infectious Disease

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2697; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032697 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1622

Abstract

The Central African Region is an agricultural and fishing-based economy, with 40% of the population living in rural communities. The negative impacts of climate change have caused economic/health-related adverse impacts and food insecurity. This original article aims to research four key themes: (i) acute food insecurity (AFI); (ii) childhood malnutrition and mortality; (iii) infectious disease burden; and (iv) drought and mean temperature projections throughout the twenty-first century. Food insecurity was mapped in Central Africa based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for AFI. The global hunger index (GHI) was presented along with the proportion of children with undernourishment, stunting, wasting, and mortality. Data for infectious disease burden was computed by assessing the adjusted rate of change (AROC) of mortality due to diarrhea among children and the burden of death rates due to pneumonia across all age groups. Finally, the mean drought index was computed through the year 2100. This population-based study identifies high levels of hunger across a majority of the countries, with the mean drought index suggesting extreme ends of wet and dry days and an overall rise of 1–3 °C. This study is a source of evidence for stakeholders, policymakers, and the population residing in Central Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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11 pages, 681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Health—A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Katharina van Baal

Stephanie Stiel

and

Peter Schulte

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1464; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021464 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1641

Abstract

Climate change is inseparably linked to human health. Although there is growing awareness of the threats to human health caused by climate change, it remains unclear how the German population perceives the relevance of climate change and its health consequences. Between May and September 2022, German residents were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey that explored three content areas: (1) the relevance of climate change, (2) health risks in connection with climate change and (3) collective and individual options for action against climate change. A total of 697 full data sets were collected for analysis (72% female, 51% ≥55 years old). The majority of participants agreed that human-induced climate change exists (85%), and that it has an impact on human health (83%). They also perceived the global population to be more strongly impacted by climate change than themselves (89% versus 68%). Most participants (76%) claimed to personally contribute to climate protection and 23% felt that their city or council contributed to climate protection. Although the majority of participants saw climate change as a threat to human health, they perceived other population groups to be most strongly affected. Cognitive dissonance might explain this lack of individual concern and one approach to addressing such distorted perceptions might be the dissemination of appropriate risk communication with health professionals involved in the communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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27 pages, 4178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Road to Net Zero Health Care Systems: Governance for Sustainable Health Care in the United Kingdom and Germany

Léa Weimann

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Edda Weimann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12167; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912167 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3031

Abstract

Health care lies at the forefront of the impacts of climate change. Since the health sector is a major polluting and emission intensive sector, it remains a crucial challenge to address sustainability. The English National Health System (NHS) aims to be the first in the world to achieve net zero in all emission classes (Scope 1–3). In Germany, sustainability in health care is being driven bottom-up, while the Federal Ministry of Health at the time of the research in early 2021 takes no active stance on a net zero health care system. This article analyses the approaches to sustainability in the two different health care systems, explores common challenges, and draws recommendations to support the transition of the sector to a net zero future. An exploratory mixed method approach was taken applying qualitative and quantitative methods. This includes high-level expert interviews and an online survey from the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. Results reveal the complex nature of health care systems and the need for engraining a systems-thinking approach. The findings call for the legal embedding of sustainability into the key principles of health care in Germany, endorses the ambition of the national health care systems in the UK, recommends collaborative cross-sector approaches for sustainability, and highlights the need for increased public awareness on the interrelation between human and planetary health to enable governance for sustainable health care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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17 pages, 412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Health Aspects of Climate Change Adaptation in Three Cities: A Qualitative Study

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610292 - 18 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

Climate change presents an unprecedented public health challenge as it has a great impact on population health outcomes across the global population. The key to addressing these health challenges is adaptation carried out in cities through collaboration between institutions, including public health ones. Through semi-structured interviews (n = 16), this study investigated experiences and perceptions of what public health aspects are considered by urban and public health planners and researchers when planning climate change adaptation in the coastal cities of Söderhamn (Sweden), Porto (Portugal) and Navotas (the Philippines). Results of the thematic analysis indicated that participating stakeholders were aware of the main climate risks threatening their cities (rising water levels and flooding, extreme temperatures, and air pollution). In addition, the interviewees talked about collaboration with other sectors, including the public health sector, in implementing climate change adaptation plans. However, the inclusion of the public health sector as a partner in the process was identified in only two cities, Navotas and Porto. Furthermore, the study found that there were few aspects pertaining to public health (water and sanitation, prevention of heat-related and water-borne diseases, and prevention of the consequences associated with heat waves in vulnerable groups such as children and elderly persons) in the latest climate change adaptation plans posted on each city’s website. Moreover, participants pointed to different difficulties: insufficient financial resources, limited intersectoral collaboration for climate change adaptation, and lack of involvement of the public health sector in the adaptation processes, especially in one of the cities in which climate change adaptation was solely the responsibility of the urban planners. Studies using larger samples of stakeholders in larger cities are needed to better understand why the public health sector is still almost absent in efforts to adapt to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Public Health)

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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Effectiveness of Cooling Interventions in Hot Workplaces: A Scoping Review
Authors: Antonia Kaltsatou; et al
Affiliation: FAME Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece

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