Extreme heat events and health vulnerabilities among immigrant and newcomer populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Joann Varickanickal ◽  
K. Bruce Newbold
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Canadian Context ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Heat Events

With higher temperatures linked to increased human morbidity and mortality, the projected increase in the number of extreme heat events (EHEs) due to climate change poses increased risks. Although the old, individuals with pre-existing illnesses, the socially isolated, and individuals with low income or low educational status are more vulnerable to the health effects of EHEs and are targeted in public health messaging, newcomers and immigrants may be less aware of the dangers of EHEs. The impacts of EHEs on the immigrant and newcomer population are not well documented in the Canadian context and the combination of a greater number of heat events and a growing and diverse immigrant population necessitates further exploration. Framed by intersectionality and using Hamilton, Ontario, as a case example, this work explores the barriers that may affect immigrant’s awareness of EHEs.

scholarly journals Organizing the institutional Public Health response to heat under climate change: A scoping review

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Boeckmann ◽  
G Sanchez Martinez ◽  
V Kendrovski
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Heat Events

Abstract Background Extreme heat events are a major health risk, and their intensity and frequency are expected to increase under climate change. Heat health action plans (HHAP) aim to prevent adverse health effects through measures such as warning systems or communication campaigns. This scoping review asked whether the peer-reviewed Public Health literature suggests evidence for good practice governance of HHAP. Methods Databases PubMed and Web of Science were searched using search string combinations of heat, policy, warning system, and related terms. Data was extracted into a pre-defined extraction table based on theory-driven variables related to responsibilities, processes of stakeholder involvement, evaluation and whether good practice advice was provided. Findings were narratively synthesized and gaps in the current knowledge evaluated from a normative standpoint. Results Searches resulted in 6681 hits. After title, abstract and full text screening, 20 articles were assessed, 11 from Europe and 9 from other regions. Findings on structure of governance revealed that the Ministry of Health or Ministry for the Environment leads the development of an adaptation plan or HHAP guidance, while locally Departments of Health most often lead coordination of actions. Interagency cooperation was reported as essential, while in the majority of included studies the public are perceived as recipients of advice and warnings rather than as active stakeholders. Tailoring national guidance to local contexts as well as raising awareness of the plan not only among the public but also among all levels of management was one suggested good practice. Conclusions Few articles explicitly examine the organization of HHAP and no conclusions about whether a specific approach is superior can be drawn from these studies. To adequately protect human health from extreme heat events, an assessment of whether current governance structures are able to provide effective heat health action could be useful. Key messages The peer-reviewed literature does not provide information on which type of HHAP governance is superior. In the absence of a gold standard, it should be assessed what stakeholders and discourses are absent from HHAP governance to ensure vulnerable groups are adequately addressed by HHAP.

scholarly journals Associations between Green Building Design Strategies and Community Health Resilience to Extreme Heat Events: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adele Houghton ◽  
Carlos Castillo-Salgado
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Flow Diagram ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Green Building Design ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Heat Events

This project examined evidence linking green building design strategies with the potential to enhance community resilience to extreme heat events. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method for a systematic review, it assessed the strength of the evidence supporting the potential for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) credit requirements to reduce the adverse effects of extreme heat events and/or enhance a building’s passive survivability (i.e., the ability to continue to function during utility outages) during those events. The PRISMA Flow Diagram resulted in the selection of 12 LEED for New Construction (LEED NC) credits for inclusion in the review. Following a preliminary scan of evidence supporting public health co-benefits of the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system, queries were submitted in PubMed using National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings Terms. Queries identified links between LEED credit requirements and risk of exposure to extreme heat, environmental determinants of health, co-benefits to public health outcomes, and co-benefits to built environment outcomes. Public health co-benefits included reducing the risk of vulnerability to heat stress and reducing heat-related morbidity and mortality. The results lay the groundwork for collaboration across the public health, civil society, climate change, and green building sectors.

scholarly journals A heatwave forecast service for Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Bettio ◽  
John R. Nairn ◽  
Steven C. McGibbony ◽  
Pandora Hope ◽  
Andrew Tupper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Australian Bureau ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Health Infrastructure ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
High Maximum ◽  
Heat Events

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology monitors, researches, predicts and communicates Australia’s weather and climate. Australia’s mean temperature has risen by over 1°C since 1910, leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events. Extreme heat can profoundly impact human health, infrastructure and the environment. Research conducted at the Bureau and elsewhere shows that climate change is impacting the intensity and frequency of extreme heat events. One way that the Bureau has responded to this challenge is by providing a forecast service specifically targeted at identifying heatwaves. The heatwave service identifies areas expected to be impacted by three or more consecutive days of unusually high maximum and minimum temperatures on a national map. The service has been developed with clear impact-based categories of heatwave severity. This heatwave service is now available operationally on the Bureau’s website during the heatwave season (nominally November to March) and is proving a valuable tool for engaging the community, including emergency services, with forecasts and warnings of extreme heat.

Extreme Heat Events and Public Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Karimi ◽  
Rouzbeh Nazari ◽  
Samain Sabrin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Heat Events

HAPPI-Health: The Paris Agreement avoids substantial extreme heat-related mortality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Lo ◽  
Dann Mitchell ◽  
Antonio Gasparrini ◽  
Ana Vicedo-Cabrera
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Large Ensemble ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
Global Mean ◽  
Heat Events ◽  
Related Mortality

<p>Extreme heat is associated with increased risks of human mortality. In a warming climate, extreme heat events are projected to intensify and become more frequent, potentially adversely affecting human health. The Paris Agreement aims at limiting global mean temperature rise this century to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, but mitigation ambition as established in nations’ initial Nationally Determined Contributions still implies ~3°C warming. Quantifying the differences in extreme heat-related mortality between 1.5, 2 and 3°C warming is essential to understanding the public health impacts of climate policies and how societies may adapt to a warming climate.</p><p>In this talk, I will show a new approach to projecting extreme heat-related mortality using the Half a degree Additional warming, Prognosis and Projected Impacts (HAPPI) large ensemble and health models. The large ensemble of HAPPI simulations of the 1.5, 2 and 3°C warmer worlds allows extreme heat events and their health impacts in these worlds to be examined, rather than the mean climates. Using published case studies of the United States and Europe; I will demonstrate that limiting global mean warming from 3°C to 2°C or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels could reduce heat-related mortality associated with extreme heat events, with the 1.5°C limit being substantially more beneficial to public health than 2°C. In addition to climate change, I will discuss the roles of urbanisation, population changes and adaptation in future extreme heat exposure and heat-related mortality.</p>

scholarly journals Extreme heat events and the vulnerability of endemic montane fishes to climate change

Ecography ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1913-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Troia ◽  
Xingli Giam
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Heat Events

Climate Change and Extreme Heat Events

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Luber ◽  
Michael McGeehin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Extreme Heat ◽  
Extreme Heat Events ◽  
Heat Events
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