Overcoming Barriers to Successful Climate and Health Adaptation Practice: Notes from the Field

Mallen, Evan; Joseph, Heather A.; McLaughlin, Megan; English, Dorette Quintana; Olmedo, C.; Roach, Matt; Tirdea, Carmen; Vargo, Jason; Wolff, Matt; York, Emily

doi:10.3390/ijerph19127169

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…This research examined mainly barriers faced in conducting climate change and health research. While we focused on Puducherry, the findings relatively remain relevant for India and can be extrapolated to other LMIC settings [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to climate change and health research in India: A qualitative study

Shrikhande

Merten

Cambaco

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Almost a quarter of the global burden of disease and mortalities is attributable to environmental causes, the magnitude of which is projected to increase in the near future. Evidence informed policies and interventions are a key element in the adaptation response for countries. However, in many low- and middle-income settings, there remains a large gap in the synthesis of evidence on climate-sensitive health outcomes. In India, now the worlds most populous country, little remains known about the impacts of climate change on various health outcomes. In light of Indias vulnerability to climate change, the growing population and the high burden of disease, it is imperative to understand the challenges faced in conducting environmental health research. In this study, we employed key informant interviews to understand the perceived research barriers amongst health professionals, including medical researchers, and professionals involved in environmental policies and planning in Puducherry, India. The findings were analysed using data driven qualitative thematic analysis to elaborate the major perceived barriers to conducting environmental health research. Challenges in data collection systems and accessing data was the major barrier along with the need for strengthening technical and methodological research capacity. Participants described working in the backdrop of insufficient prioritization and knowledge on the wide range of impacts of climate change on health, both in the policy context and amongst scientists, which was also perceived to be a challenge in conducting environmental health research. Finally, limited resources to conduct research and the tendency to focus on conventional climate related health outcomes were also seen as challenges to advancing research on this topic. In the context of the paucity of data on environmental health from India, despite recognised climate change related health vulnerabilities, these findings could contribute to the development and improvement of interventions conducive to a strong research environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to climate change and health research in India: A qualitative study

Shrikhande

Merten

Cambaco

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…We used these terms to enhance inclusivity, as they are more familiar nomenclature with the case study discussants. In our analysis and the remainder of this report, we use the term "enabler," which is conceptualized similarly to Mallen et al [62] and defined as a factor that helped the project team conduct the evaluation. Similarly, we use the term "barrier" to mean an obstacle that makes evaluation less efficient or effective or result in additional delays or costs [62,63].…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our analysis and the remainder of this report, we use the term "enabler," which is conceptualized similarly to Mallen et al [62] and defined as a factor that helped the project team conduct the evaluation. Similarly, we use the term "barrier" to mean an obstacle that makes evaluation less efficient or effective or result in additional delays or costs [62,63]. We completed several cycles of feedback and clarification before finalizing the case notes.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The case studies revealed a few additional barriers and enablers that correspond to those identified by prior research. Moser and Ekstrom [38] and Mallen et al [62] similarly identified limitations in resources and funding, challenges with leadership, and lack of climate-specific expertise to be substantial barriers to successful climate adaptation. These findings imply that several barriers to successful adaptation also apply to evaluation.…”

Section: Plos Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating public health strategies for climate adaptation: Challenges and opportunities from the climate ready states and cities initiative

et al. 2023

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Evaluation generates critical evidence about the effectiveness of health-focused climate adaptation, who receives what benefits, and how to improve program quality. However, using evaluation to improve climate adaptation outcomes with timeliness and context-specificity is uniquely challenging. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports health departments to implement adaptation initiatives through the Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative (CRSCI) grant and minimize negative health impacts of climate change via the Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework, which includes evaluation. In this paper, we present current evaluation practice by describing the health-focused adaptation actions that were evaluated among CRSCI recipients, the evaluation approaches they used, and the barriers and enablers encountered. Using a mixed methods approach, we abstracted annual progress report and standardized performance measure data to characterize evaluation activities across 18 grant recipients using basic quantitative descriptive analysis. Through structured interviews with three grant recipients and standard team-based qualitative coding and analysis techniques, we developed qualitative case studies to explore evaluation barriers and enablers in richer context. Recipients reported 76 evaluations over the reporting period (2018–2021). Evaluated programs commonly addressed extreme weather (50.0%), followed by heat (27.6%). The most common purpose was to monitor implementation or improve delivery (57.9%). Case studies highlighted barriers to successful evaluation such as limited specialized evaluation expertise and staff time. Enablers included staff motivation to justify program expansion, strong relationships with community partners, and use of evaluation plans. Case studies revealed diverse strategies to seek input from stakeholders disproportionately impacted by climate change and to reduce health disparities. The experiences of CDC grant recipients provide an opportunity to better understand the barriers and enablers of climate and health evaluation practice and to identify practical strategies to expand the value of evaluation in this nascent field.

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“…Poor health outcomes can place a significant strain on the healthcare infrastructure and services, exacerbate health disparities and poverty levels, and push socio-ecological systems to tipping point thresholds [7][8][9]. Consequently, public health practitioners and institutions must address common climate threats such as wildfire and wildfire smoke, and they must develop standards for practice and response amongst competing and compounding pressures such as the COVID-19 pandemic often in a context of constrained or dwindling resources and capacity [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress of Local Health Department Planning Actions for Climate Change: Perspectives from California, USA

Holmes

Holt

English

2022

IJERPH

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Public health departments are on the frontlines of protecting vulnerable groups and working to eliminate health disparities through prevention interventions, disease surveillance and community education. Exploration of the roles national, state and local health departments (LHDs) play in advancing climate change planning and actions to protect public health is a developing arena of research. This paper presents insights from local public health departments in California, USA on how they addressed the barriers to climate adaptation planning with support from the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity Climate Change and Health Equity Section (OHE), which administers the California Building Resilience Against Climate Effects Project (CalBRACE). With support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative (CRSCI), CalBRACE initiated an adaptation project to seed climate planning and actions in county health departments. In this study, we compared the barriers and strategies of twenty-two urban and rural LHDs and explored potential options for climate change adaptation in the public health framework. Using key informant interviews and document reviews, the results showed how engagement with CalBRACE’s Local Health Department Partnership on Climate Change influenced the county departments’ ability to overcome barriers to adaptation through the diversification of funding sources, the leveraging strategic collaborations, extensive public education and communication campaigns, and the development of political capital and champions. The lessons learned and recommendations from this research may provide pathways and practices for national, state and local level health departments to collaborate in developing protocols and integrating systems to respond to health-related climate change impacts, adaptation and implementation.

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Overcoming Barriers to Successful Climate and Health Adaptation Practice: Notes from the Field

Cited by 11 publications

References 50 publications

Barriers to climate change and health research in India: A qualitative study

Barriers to climate change and health research in India: A qualitative study

Evaluating public health strategies for climate adaptation: Challenges and opportunities from the climate ready states and cities initiative

Progress of Local Health Department Planning Actions for Climate Change: Perspectives from California, USA

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