Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/115257
Type: Theses
Title: Developing health-related climate indicators: a case study of South Australia
Author: Navi, Maryam
Issue Date: 2018
School/Discipline: School of Population Health : Public Health
Abstract: Australia has experienced, and is projected to experience, a range of direct and indirect climate change-related health impacts. Extreme weather events have been associated with substantial increases in morbidity and mortality, as exemplified by the Victorian bushfires in 2009 and the Queensland floods in 2011. Moreover, significant epidemiological evidence of increases in morbidity and mortality during heatwaves has emerged in Australia. Although the primary public health problem is extreme weather-related morbidity and mortality, a secondary public health problem is that there are limited tools to track the health impacts of climate change and to develop public health interventions in a timely manner. In particular, climate-sensitive health indicators are needed by public health planners and policymakers in order to mitigate the effects for vulnerable subpopulations. This issue has recently been raised at a global level by the Lancet Countdown, an international collaboration aiming to develop and report on a series of health indicators of climate change. Gap analysis A scoping review of the literature in the area of climate-sensitive health indicators, together with preliminary consultations with stakeholders in public health agencies, identified three major gaps. Firstly, although climate-related impacts put significant pressure on the health sector, climate-related health indicators are generally not used as part of routine Australian health evaluation. In contrast, some such indicators have been developed in other countries and are currently used by the European Environmental Agency. Secondly, due to differences in climate characteristics and demographics, there is a need to identify a set of evidence-based climate-sensitive health indicators specifically for use in Australia. Finally, the feasibility and usability of such indicators in an Australian context should be investigated.
Advisor: Pisaniello, Dino Luigi
Hansen, Alana L.
Dissertation Note: Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Public Health, 2018
Keywords: climate change
indicators
human health
vulnerability
South Australia
Provenance: This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals
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