Assessing perceptions and priorities for health impacts of climate change within local Michigan health departments

Abstract

Climate change affects Michigan’s public health in several primary ways, including increased incidences of vector-borne, waterborne, heat-related, and respiratory illness. Because local health departments (LHDs) play a central role in surveillance and preventative health services, they are among the first institutions to contend with the local impacts of climate change. To assess current perceptions among Michigan public health officials, an online survey was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH). Most of the Michigan respondents (62%, n = 34) agreed that their jurisdictions have experienced climate change in the last 20 years, and 77% agreed that climate change will impact their jurisdictions in the coming 20 years. However, only 35% (n = 34) of Michigan officials agreed that climate change is a priority in their departments. About one quarter (25%, n = 34) of Michigan LHD respondents did not know about the level of expertise of either the state and federal agencies, responsible for assisting them with information and programs related to climate change and health. Uncertainty regarding the resources available to them may hinder LHDs from developing necessary preparedness, so meeting this need could bolster the public health response to climate change.

A rapid review of best practices in the development of risk registers for public health emergency management

“…Specifically, the objectives for the majority of literature reviewed could be categorized as either method development, enhancement or testing. Secondary objectives included improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of PHEM decisions ( 1 , 16 , 17 ). Other objectives highlighted in the research include reducing morbidity, and mortality as consequence of threats emerging, and preserving PH resources ( 18 ).…”

“…Specifically, the components of an RR should be fit-for-purpose and integrated within organizational planning cycles and decision-making processes ( 25 , 47 ). Planning is needed to guarantee that the threat ranking exercise is matched to organizational objectives and developed with established BP and principles ( 16 , 19 , 25 , 27 ). For planning to be effectively supported it is critical that senior management is engaged from the onset, so that objectives and priorities are clearly defined ( 13 , 16 , 27 ).…”

“…Planning is needed to guarantee that the threat ranking exercise is matched to organizational objectives and developed with established BP and principles ( 16 , 19 , 25 , 27 ). For planning to be effectively supported it is critical that senior management is engaged from the onset, so that objectives and priorities are clearly defined ( 13 , 16 , 27 ). PHOs can also seek to leverage internal capacities to establish roles and responsibilities in support of the planning process, as the requisite resources, personnel, and expertise already exist within PHO.…”

“…Our review demonstrated that MCDA and Delphi methods can help manage values by supporting the evaluation of competing inputs and by compelling stakeholders to make trade-offs. Nevertheless, it can be argued that further research is needed to investigate the impact of values more broadly, as values inherently influence beliefs of right and wrong, and good and bad ( 13 , 14 , 16 , 38 ). For instance, a utilitarian values perspective would influence participants to maximize the aggregate health outcome of a population, while an egalitarian values perspective, would cause participants to minimize health differences by maximizing the welfare of those who are worst off.…”

A Global Review of Research on Effective Advocacy and Communication Strategies at the Intersection of Climate Change and Health

“…In Michigan, USA, public health officials acknowledged the presence of climate-related health issues in their regions, such as heatwaves and air quality concerns. Nevertheless, only a minority considered climate change to be a top priority in their policymaking (Carter et al, 2021). Similarly, a 2012 survey of local health department officials in New York, USA, found that only about four out of ten (39%) participants believed climate change will be a public health concern in the next 20 years, and only one-quarter (25%) believed it was a priority for their department (Carr et al, 2012).…”