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Linares C, Díaz J, Negev M, Martínez GS, Debono R, Paz S. Impacts of climate change on the public health of the Mediterranean Basin population - Current situation, projections, preparedness and adaptation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109107. [PMID: 32069750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Basin is undergoing a warming trend with longer and warmer summers, an increase in the frequency and the severity of heat waves, changes in precipitation patterns and a reduction in rainfall amounts. In this unique populated region, which is characterized by significant gaps in the socio-economic levels particularly between the North (Europe) and South (Africa), parallel with population growth and migration, increased water demand and forest fires risk - the vulnerability of the Mediterranean population to human health risks increases significantly. Indeed, climatic changes impact the health of the Mediterranean population directly through extreme heat, drought or storms, or indirectly by changes in water availability, food provision and quality, air pollution and other stressors. The main health effects are related to extreme weather events (including extreme temperatures and floods), changes in the distribution of climate-sensitive diseases and changes in environmental and social conditions. The poorer countries, particularly in North Africa and the Levant, are at highest risk. Climate change affects the vulnerable sectors of the region, including an increasingly older population, with a larger percentage of those with chronic diseases, as well as poor people, which are therefore more susceptible to the effects of extreme temperatures. For those populations, a better surveillance and control systems are especially needed. In view of the climatic projections and the vulnerability of Mediterranean countries, climate change mitigation and adaptation become ever more imperative. It is important that prevention Health Action Plans will be implemented, particularly in those countries that currently have no prevention plans. Most adaptation measures are "win-win situation" from a health perspective, including reducing air pollution or providing shading solutions. Additionally, Mediterranean countries need to enhance cross-border collaboration, as adaptation to many of the health risks requires collaboration across borders and also across the different parts of the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health. Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maya Negev
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Shlomit Paz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Israel.
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Rudd MA, Moore AFP, Rochberg D, Bianchi-Fossati L, Brown MA, D'Onofrio D, Furman CA, Garcia J, Jordan B, Kline J, Risse LM, Yager PL, Abbinett J, Alber M, Bell JE, Bhedwar C, Cobb KM, Cohen J, Cox M, Dormer M, Dunkley N, Farley H, Gambill J, Goldstein M, Harris G, Hopkinson M, James JA, Kidd S, Knox P, Liu Y, Matisoff DC, Meyer MD, Mitchem JD, Moore K, Ono AJ, Philipsborn J, Sendall KM, Shafiei F, Shepherd M, Teebken J, Worley AN. Climate research priorities for policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists in Georgia, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 62:190-209. [PMID: 29796704 PMCID: PMC6060861 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-018-1051-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has far-reaching effects on human and ecological systems, requiring collaboration across sectors and disciplines to determine effective responses. To inform regional responses to climate change, decision-makers need credible and relevant information representing a wide swath of knowledge and perspectives. The southeastern U. S. State of Georgia is a valuable focal area for study because it contains multiple ecological zones that vary greatly in land use and economic activities, and it is vulnerable to diverse climate change impacts. We identified 40 important research questions that, if answered, could lay the groundwork for effective, science-based climate action in Georgia. Top research priorities were identified through a broad solicitation of candidate research questions (180 were received). A group of experts across sectors and disciplines gathered for a workshop to categorize, prioritize, and filter the candidate questions, identify missing topics, and rewrite questions. Participants then collectively chose the 40 most important questions. This cross-sectoral effort ensured the inclusion of a diversity of topics and questions (e.g., coastal hazards, agricultural production, ecosystem functioning, urban infrastructure, and human health) likely to be important to Georgia policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists. Several cross-cutting themes emerged, including the need for long-term data collection and consideration of at-risk Georgia citizens and communities. Workshop participants defined effective responses as those that take economic cost, environmental impacts, and social justice into consideration. Our research highlights the importance of collaborators across disciplines and sectors, and discussing challenges and opportunities that will require transdisciplinary solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Althea F P Moore
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Daniel Rochberg
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Marilyn A Brown
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David D'Onofrio
- Atlanta Regional Commission, 229 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Carrie A Furman
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jairo Garcia
- City of Atlanta Office of Resilience, 55 Trinity Av. SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Ben Jordan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer Kline
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, Brunswick, GA, USA
| | - L Mark Risse
- University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Patricia L Yager
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jessica Abbinett
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Merryl Alber
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Asheville, NC, 28801, USA
| | - Cyrus Bhedwar
- Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kim M Cobb
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Juliet Cohen
- Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Atlanta, GA, 30306, USA
| | - Matt Cox
- The Greenlink Group, 695 Pylant St NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306, USA
| | - Myriam Dormer
- The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, 100 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, USA
| | - Nyasha Dunkley
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, 4244 International Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30354, USA
| | - Heather Farley
- The College of Coastal Georgia, School of Business and Public Management, One College Drive, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
| | - Jill Gambill
- University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Mindy Goldstein
- Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Garry Harris
- Center for Sustainable Communities, 100 Flatshoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA, 30316, USA
| | - Melissa Hopkinson
- Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA, 30566, USA
| | | | - Susan Kidd
- Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | - Pam Knox
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Daniel C Matisoff
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Michael D Meyer
- WSP USA Inc., 845 Spring Street, Unit 204, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA
| | - Jamie D Mitchem
- Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA, 30566, USA
| | - Katherine Moore
- Sustainable Growth Program, Georgia Conservancy 230 Peachtree Street Suite 1250, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Aspen J Ono
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Kerrie M Sendall
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Fatemeh Shafiei
- Spelman College Department of Political Science, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA
| | | | - Julia Teebken
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, Graduate School of East Asian Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Vulnerability and Human Condition Initiative, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ashby N Worley
- The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, 100 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, USA
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