Climate change and health: impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation

Tord Kjellstrom; Haylee J. Weaver

doi:10.1071/NB08053

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Climate change and health: impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation

Tord Kjellstrom ^A ^B and Haylee J. Weaver ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University

^B Corresponding author. Email: kjellstromt@yahoo.com

NSW Public Health Bulletin 20(2) 5-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB08053
Published: 25 February 2009

Abstract

Global climate change is progressing and health impacts have been observed in a number of countries, including Australia. The main health impacts will be due to direct heat exposure, extreme weather, air pollution, reduced local food production, food- and vectorborne infectious diseases and mental stress. The issue is one of major public health importance. Adaptation to reduce the effects of climate change involves many different sectors to minimise negative health outcomes. Wide-scale mitigation is also required, in order to reduce the effects of climate change. In addition, future urban design must be modified to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Strategies for mitigation and adaptation can create co-benefits for both individual and community health, by reducing non-climate-related health hazard exposures and by encouraging health promoting behaviours and lifestyles.

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