Relationship between Climate Change and Health Sector Planning

Abstract

Abstract Climate change and its impact on the environment will have negative effects on health worldwide. National health strategies and plans (NHSPs) play an essential role in defining the future of a country's health system. It remains unknown whether and how NHSPs take climate change and related health risks into account and if this is done by countries that are most affected by climate change. This study aims (1) to understand the content of NHSPs with regard to climate change, (2) to assess the characteristics of countries with NHSPs that take climate change into account and (3) to analyze the factors that influence countries addressing climate change in NHSPs. NHSPs from 101 countries were studied. Keyword searches of NHSPs were used to identify concepts linked to climate change and related health risks. NHSPs were classified into red (no consideration of climate change), yellow (discussion of climate issues) and green (yellow + discussion of adaptation strategies). Two logistic regression models were conducted to analyze the relationship between NHSP categorization and potential explanatory factors, such as wealth (GNI/capita), Climate Risk, Climate Vulnerability or Climate Change-related Health Risk. Climate change is addressed in 66 NHSPs but only 38 NHSPs propose adaptation strategies (green category). African and low-income countries tend to address climate change in their NHSPs more frequently than high-income countries. The regression analysis found that NHSPs are more likely to address climate change (green and yellow) if countries face a higher degree of climate risk and climate vulnerability. No statistically significant association was found for climate change-related health risk and gross national income. Only about one third of all analyzed NHSPs discussed both the effects of climate change and potential adaptation measures. Climate change is addressed mostly by NHSPs of countries strongly affected by climate change. Key messages NHSPs could potentially provide strategic direction for health systems to adapt to climate change. NHSPs of many countries do not discuss how to adapt the health system to climate change.