Public health adaptation to climate change in OECD countries

This publication discusses climate change as a major challenge facing public health. The study explores how national-level public health adaptation is occurring in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, examines the roles of national governments in public health adaptation, and appraises three key governance dimensions of national-level health adaptation.

Findings suggest that national governments are primarily addressing infectious disease and heat-related risks posed by climate change, typically emphasizing capacity building or information-based groundwork initiatives. Governments are taking a variety of approaches to public health adaptation to climate change that do not follow expected convergence and divergence by governance structure. 

The report discusses practical options for incorporating cross-sectoral collaboration, vertical coordination and national health adaptation planning into a variety of contexts. Research tracking adaptation is needed to define what health adaptation looks like in practice, reveal insights that can be taken up across states and sectors, and ensure policy orientated learning.

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Sep; 13(9): 889. This study is shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).