Preparedness for Climate Change Among Local Health Department Officials in New York State

Abstract

Context Climate change adaptation strategies that address locally specific climate hazards are critical for preventing negative health outcomes, and local public health officials are key foci for adaptation planning. Objective To assess New York State Local Health Department officials’ perceptions and preparedness related to climate-sensitive health areas, and compare these with a national sample. Design Online survey instrument, originally used in a national survey of Local Health Department (LHD) officials. Setting New York State Participants Eligible participants included all New York State city and county LHD officials, one respondent per LHD. Main Outcome Measures LHD officials’ perceptions of local 1) climate-related public health effects, 2) preparation status and programming areas of LHDs, and 3) necessary resources to better address climate-related health risks. Results Survey participants, representing a 54% response rate (with 93% of respondents completing more than 90% of the questions), perceived climate change as relevant to public health, and most noted that some of their existing programs already use or are planning to use climate adaptation strategies. Overall, fewer New York State respondents identified concerns or related expertise compared to the previous national survey. Many respondents expressed uncertainty regarding necessary additional resources. Conclusions This type of assessment makes clear the high variability in perceived impacts and capacity at the level of local health department jurisdictions, and underscores the importance of sustained support for local climate change preparedness programming. The implications of these findings are germane to other states with similar decentralized jurisdiction of public health. Findings from such surveys can bolster existing LHD programs, as well as inform long-term and emergency planning for climate change.

Temperature, ozone, and mortality in urban and non-urban counties in the northeastern United States

“…Studies indicate that many local governments do not feel adequately prepared to address the health impacts of heat [ 27 ] and, specifically, in a survey of local health departments in New York state, the majority of respondents did not feel that their department had the necessary expertise to assess potential public health risks of climate change in their jurisdiction [ 28 ]. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut include both urban and non-urban areas and the decentralized public health structure, along with limited budgets, can mean that public health preparedness for climate change can be a challenge.…”

Challenges and Opportunities for Advancing Work on Climate Change and Public Health

“…One assessment of local agencies found that the gap between the demand for health and climate interventions and the resources available to health departments was greater than in any other sector [ 28 ]. Prior surveys exploring U.S. public health officials’ perceptions and capacity for action on climate change [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] indicate that public health practitioners are aware of climate change and its effect on their jurisdiction, but report inadequate knowledge, information, planning, funding, resources, and workforce capacity to address this issue. To understand why these barriers persist and identify ways to promote engagement, we sought to understand the differences between public health practitioners currently working on climate change and those who are not.…”

Adapting to the Changing Climate: An Assessment of Local Health Department Preparations for Climate Change-Related Health Threats, 2008-2012

“…These results have been replicated and extended in several other surveys, including surveys of the chief health officers of state and territorial health agencies [ 18 ], public health nursing administrators [ 19 ], California public health officers [ 20 ], Oregon public health officers [ 21 ], New York LHD officers [ 22 ], and environmental health directors at local, state and territorial public health agencies [ 23 ]. The results in all these surveys are similar, reporting limited preparedness for the health impacts of climate change: Half of the nursing administrators, for example, believed their departments have the responsibility to address climate-related health threats, but three-quarters said they were unprepared to do so [ 19 ].…”