A new global climate health report has shown the need for tailored climate information to support the health sector on a wide range of functions, from heat health warning systems to mapping the risk of infectious diseases.
Jason Staines writes:
Tailored climate information and services must be provided to support the health sector’s response to increasing levels of extreme weather and poor air quality, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
In a new report — 2023 State of Climate Services: Health — the WMO says while 75 per cent of national meteorological agencies share vital climate data with their respective health ministries, only 25 per cent of ministries use the information to safeguard their populations from severe threats such as extreme heat.
The report, which involved more than 30 partner institutions alongside the WMO, unveils a stark reality. While extreme heat has emerged as the deadliest form of extreme weather, access to heat warning services is available in just half of the affected nations.
This is despite predictions that the number of medium or large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year – or 1.5 each day – by 2030. Countries with limited early warning coverage have disaster mortality that is eight times higher than countries with substantial to comprehensive coverage, according to figures cited in the report.
The report comes as Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitted that Australia is lagging in its pursuit of climate targets and emphasised the need for a substantial increase in both public and private investments to bridge this gap.
Chalmers said while substantial progress had been made and essential building blocks were now in place, additional measures would be needed.
In a speech to the Economic and Social Outlook Conference, he stressed the urgency of expanding renewable energy generation, bolstering transmission infrastructure, and enhancing energy storage capacity to align with Australia’s climate goals.
Paradigm shift needed
According to the WMO, meeting the health challenges presented by climate change will require international collaboration if countries are to fully utilise climate services for health. It points out that there are valuable lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WMO says the integration of climate services for health will require significant changes in institutional development and a multisectoral approach. The far-reaching social and economic consequences of the pandemic have highlighted the need for preparedness and resilience in the health sector to combat climate-induced challenges.
The rapidly evolving health risks arising from climate change are a significant concern, says the WMO. Adapting to these risks will require transformational changes, targeted investments, and collaborative efforts across sectors.
Once again, the negative impacts experienced by all countries during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that that similar losses can occur when a society’s health is compromised due to climate variability and climate change.
The WMO acknowledges the substantial potential for maximising climate services for health, pointing to the importance of various strategies and investments that can facilitate collaboration and the co-production of services. These aim to enhance the health sector’s resilience and its capacity to adapt to — and mitigate — the effects of climate change.
There is an urgent need to move beyond pilot projects and invest in systemic strategies to address climate risks. According to the WMO, a paradigm shift in approaches is needed, with a focus on building trust, addressing barriers, and adopting good practices.
Multisectoral coordination, policy mechanisms, and the scaling up of operational capabilities will be vital in the healthcare response to climate change, according to the report. These are crucial for enhancing the skills and capacity for climate-informed research, risk assessments, surveillance, early warning systems, and informed health policies.
Investment and implementation needed
Meanwhile, long-term support for climate-vulnerable populations will need to be supported by a multifaceted investment plan that enables action at the science-policy interface for climate, environment, and health.
To effectively action these mechanisms and strategies, an integrated implementation plan is needed, according to the WMO, addressing policy and coordination, capacity building, communications, research, operational services, and monitoring and evaluation.
The report identifies four significant challenges: urban populations vulnerable to extreme heat and air pollution; sensitivity of infectious diseases to climate; climate risks to food security and nutrition; and climate adaptation and mitigation within the health system. These challenges will need to be addressed as part of the transformation process.
Collaborative efforts between climate scientists, health professionals, policymakers, and funding agencies will be essential in addressing gaps in climate services for the health sector, according to the WMO. This will entail prioritising data availability, localisation, integration, capacity building, and sustainable funding.
In launching the WMO report, World Health Organization Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said it “highlights the need for tailored climate information to support the health sector on a wide range of functions from heat health warning systems to mapping the risk of infectious diseases”.
Countries “must work together to make high-quality climate services available to all communities and support the health of people facing the impacts of climate change”.
Case studies
The report features case studies from around the world showcasing integrated climate and health action – such as early warning systems for extreme heat, pollen monitoring to help allergy sufferers and satellite surveillance for climate-sensitive diseases.
To highlight the value of international collaboration, and the role better use of health data can play in dealing with climate impacts, the WMO points to the SunSmart Global UV app.
Launched in July 2022 with the support of WHO, WMO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the app is designed to influence sun protection behaviour by providing information on the times of the day when sun protection is required.
It was developed in Australia by the Cancer Council Victoria, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Bureau of Meteorology. It uses data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and weather information from the Hong Kong Observatory and can draw on live data when it is available.
According to the WMO, launching an app globally with the support of United Nations agencies “requires a lot of work, time and tenacity – but is worth it”.
However, it notes that such efforts require suitable funding since developing an app that suits a global audience across multiple languages incurs significant costs, both in terms of the initial development, and ongoing support and promotion.
Other case studies profiled in the report include:
- In Europe, a mobile app has been developed to provide information on risks of heatwaves and air pollution in urban environments.
- In the Pacific, enhanced integrated risk monitoring and climate-informed early warning systems have helped people in Fiji better prepare and respond to climatic changes, reducing morbidity and mortality from climate sensitive diseases.
- In the Pan-American region, early warning systems for extreme heat and cold in Argentina were pioneered with the health and civil protections sectors.
- Climate and Health Bulletins in the Caribbean and Colombia improve the management of environmental health and climate services.
- In Southeast Asia, satellites support the integration of climate and environmental information into health surveillance systems for Myanmar, and the development of an integrated early warning system for dengue in Vietnam and measures to enhance the resilience of the most vulnerable settlements in Lao PDR.
Further reading
Health Policy Watch: Health Sector is ‘Ill-Prepared’ to Protect People Against Heat and Other Extreme Weather Events
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