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A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa

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Listed:
  • Caradee Yael Wright

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
    Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa)

  • Candice Eleanor Moore

    (School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 4041 Durban, South Africa)

  • Matthew Chersich

    (Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Klein Street, 2001 Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • Rebecca Hester

    (Virginia Tech, Department of Science, Technology, and Society, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

  • Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle

    (Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, 3800 Clayton, Australia
    Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 672, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Guy Kakumbi Mbayo

    (World Health Organization, African Regional Office, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Congo)

  • Charles Ndika Akong

    (World Health Organization, African Regional Office, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Congo)

  • Colin D. Butler

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, 2600 Canberra, Australia)

Abstract

The health sector response to dealing with the impacts of climate change on human health, whether mitigative or adaptive, is influenced by multiple factors and necessitates creative approaches drawing on resources across multiple sectors. This short communication presents the context in which adaptation to protect human health has been addressed to date and argues for a holistic, transdisciplinary, multisectoral and systems approach going forward. Such a novel health-climate approach requires broad thinking regarding geographies, ecologies and socio-economic policies, and demands that one prioritises services for vulnerable populations at higher risk. Actions to engage more sectors and systems in comprehensive health-climate governance are identified. Much like the World Health Organization’s ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, one should think health governance and climate change together in a transnational framework as a matter not only of health promotion and disease prevention, but of population security. In an African context, there is a need for continued cross-border efforts, through partnerships, blending climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and long-term international financing, to contribute towards meeting sustainable development imperatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Caradee Yael Wright & Candice Eleanor Moore & Matthew Chersich & Rebecca Hester & Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle & Guy Kakumbi Mbayo & Charles Ndika Akong & Colin D. Butler, 2021. "A Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Climate Change Adaptation for Human Health and Well-Being in Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-9, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4258-:d:537966
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Colin D. Butler, 2018. "Climate Change, Health and Existential Risks to Civilization: A Comprehensive Review (1989–2013)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Helen L. Berry & Thomas D. Waite & Keith B. G. Dear & Anthony G. Capon & Virginia Murray, 2018. "The case for systems thinking about climate change and mental health," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 282-290, April.
    3. Paul Collier & Gordon Conway & Tony Venables, 2008. "Climate change and Africa," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 24(2), pages 337-353, Summer.
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