Abstract
ABSTRACTBackgroundLocal authorities have a crucial role in preparing for the impacts of climate change. However, the extent to which health impacts are being prioritized and acted on is not well understood.MethodsWe investigated the role of public health in adapting to climate change through: (i) a content analysis of local authority climate change adaptation strategies in South West England and (ii) semi-structured telephone interviews with local authority public health consultants and sustainability officers and a regional Public Health England representative (n = 11).ResultsAdaptation strategies/plans varied in existence and scope. Public health consultants did not have an explicit remit for climate change adaptation, although related action often aligned with public health’s emergency planning functions. Key barriers to health-related adaptation were financial constraints, lack of leadership and limited public and professional awareness about health impacts.ConclusionsLocal authorities in South West England have differing approaches to tackling health impacts of climate change, and the prominence of public health arguments for adaptation varies. Improved public health intelligence, concise communications, targeted support, visible local and national leadership and clarity on economic costs and benefits of adaptation would be useful for local authorities in preparing for the health impacts of climate change.
Highlights
Local authorities have a crucial role in preparing for the impacts of climate change
A convenience sample of public health consultants (PHCs) and sustainability officers (SOs) working in local authorities in South West England was recruited for interviews
The documents varied in the extent to which health impacts were included (Table 1, section 1)
Summary
Local authorities have a crucial role in preparing for the impacts of climate change. Climate change has enormous implications for human health This includes direct effects, including heat-related illness, deaths due to high/low temperatures and the physical and mental health impacts caused by flooding. Locall authorities are crucial to the delivery of actions to prepare for the impacts of climate change (termed ‘adaptation’) given their democratic mandate and wide remit in local areas, including roles in planning, the built environment and—in England—public health.[5] There is a legal requirement for national government to undertake a risk assessment relating to climate change and produce a response action plan (the National Adaptation Programme, NAP5) every 5 years.[6] in local government, there is no statutory duty for climate change adaptation and there is concern about whether local authorities are equipped to take
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