Abstract
Climate change presents risks to health that must be addressed by both decision-makers and public health researchers. Within the application of Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA), there have been few attempts to incorporate climate change-related health risks as an input to the framework. This study used a focus group design to examine the perceptions of government, industry and academic specialists about the suitability of assessing the health consequences of climate change within an EHIA framework. Practitioners expressed concern over a number of factors relating to the current EHIA methodology and the inclusion of climate change-related health risks. These concerns related to the broad scope of issues that would need to be considered, problems with identifying appropriate health indicators, the lack of relevant qualitative information that is currently incorporated in assessment and persistent issues surrounding stakeholder participation. It was suggested that improvements are needed in data collection processes, particularly in terms of adequate communication between environmental and health practitioners. Concerns were raised surrounding data privacy and usage, and how these could impact on the assessment process. These findings may provide guidance for government and industry bodies to improve the assessment of climate change-related health risks.
Highlights
Despite the complex relationships that exist between the environment and health, the assessment of related impacts has often been performed separately, with health impacts often neglected within traditional environmental impact assessment frameworks [1,2]
In Australia, Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) is often viewed as a process which combines both Environmental Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment when evaluating the impacts of a development, policy or plan on the environment and on health [5]
Most had been extensively involved in environmental or health impact assessments ranging from the study of contaminant exposure in relation to industrial projects, the development of policy in relation to industry or health regulations, as well as health impact measurement associated with specific projects
Summary
Despite the complex relationships that exist between the environment and health, the assessment of related impacts has often been performed separately, with health impacts often neglected within traditional environmental impact assessment frameworks [1,2]. Impact Assessment (EHIA) has become increasingly common, to accommodate both direct and indirect linkages between the environment and health risks [4]. EHIA has been defined as an environmental impact assessment procedure with a health component included, formalising the process of assessing both direct and indirect health impacts of an environmental change, project, development, or policy [2]. In Australia, EHIA is often viewed as a process which combines both Environmental Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment when evaluating the impacts of a development, policy or plan on the environment and on health [5]. The impacts of health hazards related to environmental contamination, planning activities and policy have been included in assessments, with the range of potential applications implying that
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More From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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