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

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.

Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

“…These initiatives should encompass a spectrum of support measures, from funding for cutting-edge research projects to scholarships fostering the growth of budding scientists. Such investments will enable emerging researchers to explore innovative solutions, including advanced disease surveillance systems [ 44 ]. For instance, one key to impact would be to create or enhance government research agencies dedicated to addressing climate-related public health and environmental issues.…”

“…The establishment of these collaborative frameworks represents a proactive step toward building resilience and preparedness in the face of climate-induced health challenges, underscoring the vital importance of a coordinated approach to combating vector-borne diseases under the shadow of a changing climate. Furthermore, collaborative networks at the regional level will enhance knowledge exchange, encouraging joint research efforts to combat the unique challenges posed by climate change and vector-borne diseases in each African region [ 44 ]. By committing to such investments, African nations will, not only strengthen their research capacities but also foster a culture of scientific excellence, enabling the implementation of transformative solutions for Africa, based on African-led research to tackle the complex interplay of climate change and vector-borne diseases.…”

Collective responsibility during a cholera outbreak: The case of Hammanskraal

“…At a national level, we bear a collective responsibility to adopt and commit to sustainable practices that limit our contributions to climate change, thereby reducing the drivers of climate change, which can indirectly impact the occurrence of cholera and other diseases of this nature. [38,39] This can be achieved through a transdisciplinary approach, [40] good governance, [23] reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and promoting environmentally friendly behaviours. [41] Mitigating and adapting to climate change also necessitates international collaborations and concerted efforts.…”

Supporting Design to Develop Rural Revitalization through Investigating Village Microclimate Environments: A Case Study of Typical Villages in Northwest China

“…Related research has found that the air temperature of Earth is about 1.1 °C warmer than that it was in the late 1800s, and the past decade (2011–2020) has been the hottest period on record [ 4 ]. Moreover, climate change has caused a series of problems, such as reducing indoor and outdoor thermal comfort [ 5 ], endangering human health [ 6 , 7 , 8 ], aggravating air pollution [ 9 , 10 ], and increasing building energy consumption [ 11 ], etc. Besides, global climate change will accelerate the speed of photochemical reactions, increase the concentration of ozone in the near-surface atmosphere, and affect human health [ 12 ].…”