Integration of Public Health with Adaptation to Climate Change: Lessons Learned and New Directions

Kristie L. Ebi, Ph.D., MPH is a Senior Managing Scientist at Exponent. Dr. Ebi is an epidemiologist specializing in research both on the potential impacts of global environmental change, including impacts associated with extreme events, thermal stress, and vector-borne diseases, and on the design of adaptation response options to reduce negative impacts. Dr Ebi has worked with the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health in Rome, Italy and received her PhD and MPH in Epidemiologic Science from The University of Michigan. She conducted two years of postgraduate research in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Joel B. Smith is a vice president with Stratus Consulting Inc. in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Mr. Smith has been analyzing climate change impacts and adaptation issues for over 15 years. Mr. Smith worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency from 1984-92, where he was the Deputy Director of the Agency's Climate Change Division. Mr. Smith received a BA from Williams College and an MPP from the University of Michigan. Ian Burton is an independent scholar and consultant in the fields of adaptation to climate change, environmental risk assessment, natural hazards, and public policy. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto (where he was Director of the Institute for Environmental Studies) and Scientist Emeritus with the Meteorological Service of Canada, of Environment Canada (where he was Senior Policy Advisor and Director of the Impacts and Adaptation Research Group). Dr. Burton is a consultant with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the Canadian International Development Agency.

Contents






Adaptation to climate variability and change from a public health perspective.



Approaching adaptation: parallels and contrasts between the climate and health communities



The global resurgence of vector-borne diseases: lessons learned from successful and failed adaptation



Ecology, climate and campylobacteriosis in New Zealand



A case study of unintended consequences: arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh



Epidemic early warning systems: Ross River virus disease in Australia



The history of malaria control in Africa: lessons learned and future perspectives



Heat waves: past and future impacts on health



Extreme weather and climate events – implications for public health



Disease surveillance in the context of climate stressors: needs and opportunities



Stratospheric ozone depletion: successful responses to a global environmental insult



The adoption of adaptation measures



International public health policy case study



Grounds for convergence



Lessons learned and insights for adaptation policy