Local Climate Change Adaptation under the Lenses of Public Health: A Case Study from Porto, Portugal.

IF 0.7 Q3 Medicine
Portuguese Journal of Public Health Pub Date : 2024-09-24 eCollection Date: 2024-12-01 DOI:10.1159/000540747
José Pedro Silva, Gloria Macassa, Henrique Barros, Ana Isabel Ribeiro
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Climate change is a pressing public health issue. Urban populations, especially in coastal areas, are highly vulnerable. As climate change progresses, local adaptation becomes increasingly important. We present a case study about the inclusion of public health concerns in local climate change adaptation in Porto (Portugal).

Methods: We analysed two local adaptation plans using qualitative content analysis and conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 6 key stakeholders with different profiles. We did a qualitative content analysis of the respective transcripts.

Results: Porto is undergoing health-relevant consequences of climate change, which are expected to worsen further in the future. Porto's geographical and demographic characteristics and urban environment make its population highly vulnerable to climate change-related health risks. Public health is recognized as a central element in local adaptation efforts. Drivers for integrating health concerns include growing climate change awareness, a sense of urgency, social capital, institutional networks, access to resources, and political commitment. Nevertheless, challenges like data limitations, resource constraints, climate knowledge gaps, communication issues, and political cycles hinder both local adaptation and the integration of health considerations.

Discussion/conclusion: In Porto, health seems both a powerful mobilizing issue and a central topic concerning local adaptation. However, the complex and long-term nature of climate change and the associated uncertainty hinder adaptation efforts. High-quality data about both the local climate and population health are thus essential. The transversal nature of risk is recognized and multi-sectorial approaches, public participation, mainstreaming, and policy integration are necessary to prevent imbalances. Local adaptation efforts, including health-related efforts, are shaped by the international (belonging to the European Union), national, and local contexts. Successful local adaptation and inclusion of health aspects require mainstreaming and policy integration across different areas and involvement of multiple stakeholders, including the population, in order to maximize resources and avoid undesired trade-offs.

公共卫生视角下的地方气候变化适应:以葡萄牙波尔图为例
气候变化是一个紧迫的公共卫生问题。城市人口,特别是沿海地区的城市人口非常脆弱。随着气候变化的进展,地方适应变得越来越重要。我们提出了一个关于将公共卫生问题纳入波尔图(葡萄牙)当地气候变化适应的案例研究。方法:采用定性内容分析方法对两种地方适应计划进行分析,并对6个不同背景的关键利益相关者进行半结构化访谈。我们对各自的笔录进行了定性内容分析。结果:波尔图正在经历气候变化带来的与健康相关的后果,预计未来将进一步恶化。波尔图的地理和人口特征以及城市环境使其人口极易受到与气候变化有关的健康风险的影响。公共卫生被认为是地方适应努力的核心要素。推动将卫生问题纳入其中的因素包括日益提高的气候变化意识、紧迫感、社会资本、机构网络、获取资源和政治承诺。然而,数据限制、资源限制、气候知识差距、沟通问题和政治周期等挑战阻碍了地方适应和卫生考虑因素的整合。讨论/结论:在波尔图,健康似乎既是一个强有力的动员问题,也是一个关于地方适应的中心话题。然而,气候变化的复杂性和长期性以及相关的不确定性阻碍了适应努力。因此,关于当地气候和人口健康的高质量数据至关重要。人们认识到风险的横向性质,需要采取多部门办法、公众参与、主流化和政策一体化,以防止失衡。地方适应努力,包括与健康有关的努力,受到国际(属于欧洲联盟)、国家和地方背景的影响。成功地在地方适应和纳入卫生方面的内容,需要将不同领域纳入主流和整合政策,需要包括民众在内的多个利益攸关方参与,以便最大限度地利用资源并避免不必要的权衡。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Portuguese Journal of Public Health
Portuguese Journal of Public Health Medicine-Health Policy
CiteScore
2.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
20
审稿时长
55 weeks
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