{"title":"“There is no hope; only strong wind”: How climate change impacts adolescent mental health in southern Madagascar","authors":"Kristin Hadfield , Matylda Sulowska , Nambinina Rasolomalala , Samuel Solomon , Satry Ramaroson , Isabelle Mareschal","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Climate change threatens children's and adolescents' health worldwide, but there is limited evidence of its effects on mental health in the low- and middle-income countries which are most affected. We focus on southern Madagascar to elucidate pathways through which climate change impacts mental health.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>In this preliminary study, we collected survey (<em>n</em> = 83; 49 female) and focus group (<em>n</em> = 48; 28 female) data from 10 to 24-year-olds (M = 15.3).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Adolescents were extremely anxious and depressed, with high climate anxiety. Adolescents indicated that climate changes influenced mental health through loss of household resources, uncertainty about the future, and disruption of coping mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Climate changes exacerbated the existential threats faced by the adolescents. In Madagascar, our results tentatively suggest that interventions and policies should address food and water security, promote adaptive farming practices, and build resources for coping.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Climate changes are having a profound impact on adolescent mental health in southern Madagascar. The mechanistic links through which these impacts occur may be different than in other, more frequently studied contexts. Research examining these pathways in more depth in Madagascar is urgently needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100438"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143715463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The interplay of factors influencing the carbon footprint of hospital care—A causal mapping analysis of scientific reports","authors":"L.H.J.A. Kouwenberg , D.S. Kringos , W.J.K. Hehenkamp , E.S. Cohen , N.H. Sperna Weiland","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Climate change threatens human well-being and planetary health, necessitating sector-wide transitions. Recent research has highlighted the carbon footprint of hospital care by identifying hotspots and mitigation areas, but key factors influencing these outcomes remain underexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used causal mapping of textual data to systematically evaluate scientific reports on the carbon footprint of hospital services and care pathways. The sample was drawn from a State-of-the-science literature review, focusing on quantitative reports on hospital services’ carbon footprint. Text fragments discussing factors influencing the carbon footprint were recorded, and variables and relationships were identified and visually mapped through iterative open, axial, and selective coding.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twelve main factors influence four major domains of the carbon footprint of hospital services and care pathways. These factors are related to the volume of travel, facilities and equipment, consumables, waste disposal, and pharmaceuticals, and their carbon intensity. Over eighty subfactors were identified, including ten cross-cutting factors that affect multiple domains of the hospital care footprint.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The carbon footprint of hospital care is a multifaceted and complex issue driven by multiple factors. Insight into these factors can inform targeted actions to reduce emissions. This study also improves the understanding of the causes of variability in carbon footprint outcomes of hospital care, which is important for the interpretation and transferability of results and conclusions in this rapidly growing field of research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100427"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143715447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heatwave health risk index for Karnataka, India","authors":"Vidhatri Thakkar , Vidya Srinivas , Pradeep Marula Siddhappanavara , Tashina Madappa , Anushiya Jeganathan , Indu K. Murthy","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100428","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>With the rise in global temperatures due to climate change, heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense. Safeguarding people's health, well-being, and quality of life from the effects of climate change and its extremes is now a priority for policymakers and international and national governments. High-risk areas, zones, districts, and communities must be recognized ahead of time to better guide planning and preparedness. This study focused on assessing the heatwave occurrence and developing a heatwave health risk index (HHRI) at the district level in Karnataka.</div></div><div><h3>Materials & Method</h3><div>A comprehensive framework by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on a climate change risk assessment methodology incorporating hazard, exposure, and vulnerability was employed to develop the HHRI under the current climate change scenario. Among the crucial determinants influencing the HHRI, 11 indicators were selected, encompassing heatwave occurrence, diurnal temperature ranges, population density, outdoor labor population, population commuting on foot, number of medical institutions, green cover, elderly population, people with disabilities, multidimensional poverty index, and health index.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The districts with higher hazard, exposure, and vulnerability were identified and mapped along with their risk driving key factors. Among the 31 districts examined in our study, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Gadag, and Dharwad districts were classified in the very high-risk category, whereas 9 were classified in the high-risk category.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study findings on the variations in heatwave health risks among districts will enable policymakers to prioritize and execute targeted strategies to successfully reduce climate impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100428"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Judite Pinto , Nelson Cossa , Mara Ferrari , Patricia S. Coffey , Melanie Picolo , Tatiana Marrufo , Ana Paula Cardoso
{"title":"Integration and use of climate data by the national health system in Mozambique","authors":"Judite Pinto , Nelson Cossa , Mara Ferrari , Patricia S. Coffey , Melanie Picolo , Tatiana Marrufo , Ana Paula Cardoso","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Mozambique is increasingly affected by extreme weather events and associated infectious disease outbreaks, highlighting a significant gap in knowledge on use of data to better inform health system preparedness and response.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this qualitative study, we collected data from 29 key informants using customized semi-structured questionnaires. Data were then triangulated and analyzed using content and thematic methods.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The National Institute of Meteorology is primarily responsible for producing and supplying weather data to the national health system (NHS). NHS has access only to weather data, and there is no specific platform or system for integrating weather or climate data and health data. Other notable barriers to sharing and using climate data include poor geographical coverage of the meteorological network and lack of systematic records on the impact of extreme events. Facilitating factors include multiple policies that mention the link between climate change and health, and the existence of health data management platforms and an early warning system piloted by the National Institute of Health.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Ongoing work to develop a health sector climate change adaptation plan and revitalize the Public Health Emergency Operations Center could be key to accelerating efforts to improve climate data use to inform infectious disease outbreak preparedness and response. Results from piloting of the early warning system could be used to advocate for climate data integration into the NHS to help in identifying the impact of climate change on health and designing effective plans to address climate-related infectious disease outbreaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100368"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring neighborhood racial and socioeconomic heterogeneity in the short-term effects of air pollution and extreme heat on medical emergencies","authors":"Karl Vachuska","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>As climate change continues to affect society, understanding how adverse climatic conditions impact different communities differently is essential to equitable climate change mitigation. While research has identified the potential for climate change to impact public health in terms of air quality and extreme heat, less research has explored <em>inequality</em> regarding how these events impact public health. This paper explores inequality in the effects of climatic events on short-term health based on air pollution and severe heat.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using two-way fixed-effects models, racial and socioeconomic heterogeneity in the effects of air pollution and extreme heat on the incidence of medical emergencies are examined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Results suggest that poor air quality predominantly affects the incidence of medical emergencies in poor, non-White neighborhoods and has minimal effects in affluent White neighborhoods. Neighborhoods with more impoverished residents experience more medical emergencies on days with extreme heat.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Overall, the results suggest that extreme heat has substantial effects on medical emergencies, but there is little racial heterogeneity in these effects. Notably, the results provide little evidence of an interaction effect between poor air quality and extreme heat. The results show the need for climate change mitigation strategies that are equitable for all communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100414"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adelaide M Lusambili , Kizito L Muchanga , Laurie Maria Vusolo , Constance S Shumba
{"title":"Towards youth-inclusive strategies for research on climate change and health in sub-saharan Africa","authors":"Adelaide M Lusambili , Kizito L Muchanga , Laurie Maria Vusolo , Constance S Shumba","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Globally, young people are effecting significant changes in the field of climate change through various means, such as advocacy, education and awareness campaigns, litigation, innovative solutions, and volunteering. These youth-led initiatives are essential, considering that they will face the long-term health effects of climate change. The need to address disparities in climate and health-related research, policy, and program responses in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has never been greater, considering the increasingly pronounced effects of climate change on human health. Within the African continent, where research, policies and programs are predominantly shaped by older people, the inclusion of youth is vital to contribute effectively to the discourse on climate change. In this short communication, we reflect on the limited representation of young people as researchers within the African academy studying the links between climate change and health. We provide a rationale emphasizing the urgent need to build a robust community of researchers that encompasses youth. Our argument advocates for gender-responsive investments in training young researchers in climate change and health to deepen their understanding and address the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations. We propose strategies to enhance their meaningful involvement in research and knowledge production in these fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100418"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on: Wong YL, Wong SW, Ting DSJ, Muralidhar A, Sen S, Schaff O, et al. Impacts of climate change on ocular health: A scoping review. J Clim Chang Heal. 2024 Jan 1;15:100296. doi: 10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100296.","authors":"Seth Dhillon , Baljean Dhillon","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100441","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100441"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of climate change on adipose-derived stem cells: A molecular and histological study","authors":"Saeed Motesaddi Zarandi , Rasoul Yarahmadi , Rasul Nasiri , Mohammad Bayat , Hossein Nasiri , Abdollah Amini , Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh , Hassan Rasoulzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Climate change, particularly temperature and humidity fluctuations, can affect biological systems. This study specifically investigates the impact of these two key aspects of climate change on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) as a pilot study and starting point for further examinations into the biological effects of climate change-associated conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>One-month-old male rats were kept for 4 months (equal to a 10-year climatic period) in 4 groups and exposed to conditions based on climatic data from Tehran's synoptic stations. Rats in the control group were exposed to conditions based on climatic data from 1991, and groups 2–4 were exposed to conditions based on climatic data from 1991 to 2000, 2001–2010, and 2011–2020, respectively. Monthly temperature, humidity, and day/night cycle averages were selected for animal exposure. After exposure, fat-derived stem cells were taken from each subject and assays assessing reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell viability and proliferation, and apoptosis were performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From 1991 to 2020, Tehran experienced an average temperature increase of 1.5 °C and a 15 % decrease in average humidity, conditions which when replicated in rodent models were associated with increased rates of ROS and caspase-3 expression, a reduction in Ki-67 antigen expression and in the duration of the life of cells, and an increase in the rate of apoptosis, such that apoptosis in ADSCs reached 25.51 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study demonstrates that environmental conditions similar to those from climate change are associated with significant changes in ADSCs and emphasizes the need for further research to understand their impact on health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100367"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chloe Brimicombe , Debra Jackson , Aquinius Mungatia , Zeenat Sulaiman , Tobias Monthaler , Katharina Wieser , Ilona M Otto
{"title":"The influence of heat exposure on birth and neonatal outcomes in Mombasa, Kenya: A pooled time series analysis","authors":"Chloe Brimicombe , Debra Jackson , Aquinius Mungatia , Zeenat Sulaiman , Tobias Monthaler , Katharina Wieser , Ilona M Otto","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2024.100409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The African continent has been identified as an area of high risk to increasing exposure of heat and has higher levels of social vulnerability. Heat exposure can lead to a rise in certain perinatal and maternal adverse health conditions. We explored the association of heat on seven perinatal and maternal health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Material and Methods</h3><div>In this study, data is from Aga Khan University Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. We evaluated the influence of heat exposure metrics on the outcomes of caesarean sections, low birth weight, low apgar score, preterm birth, stillbirth, assisted vaginal deliveries and long duration of stay in hospital. We carried out pooled time series regression using distributed-lag nonlinear models (lag 0–9 months).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We observed an increased odds of caesarean sections with heat exposure at lag 0 indicated by maximum daily Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) between the 50th and the 95th percentile (relative risk 1.21 (1.01,1.46, 95 %CI)) and maximum daily temperature (1.25 (1.03,1.53)). There were increased odds of Low-Birth-Weight Births for lag 0 mean and maximum UTCI. We did not find any significant responses for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and Conclusion</h3><div>Our results show different risk responses for different heat exposure metrics for all perinatal and maternal health outcomes, significantly increasing for low-birth-weight births and caesarean sections. Further research is warranted for Kenya regarding maternal mortality and higher blood loss sometimes associated with caesarean deliveries. In addition, more research is needed on socioeconomics and heat exposure, especially in low– and middle income countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100409"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pre-service teachers' insights on climate change and health in Kosovo: Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices","authors":"Lira Ramadani , Susanne Lopez Lumbi , Zeqir Veselaj , Melanie Boeckmann","doi":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100434","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joclim.2025.100434","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>As educators play a pivotal role in shaping the perspectives of future agents of change, it is crucial to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding climate change, currently considered one of the biggest health emergencies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 137 students enrolled in teacher education programs at the Faculty of Education, University of Prishtina, Kosovo. Participants were approached via convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our findings revealed misconceptions regarding the causes of climate change, with 64% incorrectly attributing climate change to natural processes or equal combined natural and human causes. Likewise, over 94% of the respondents were not aware of the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change. However, 97% reported that they think climate change currently is affecting the health of individuals at least a moderate amount. Most respondents identified illness from reduced air quality (95.6%) as an exacerbated health outcome due to climate change, while mental health conditions were perceived as the least important in connection to climate change (47.4%). A multiple linear regression model with age, gender, education level, mother's education, father's education, place of residence, attitudes and practices explained 44% of climate-health knowledge.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings from this research could contribute to the development of targeted interventions and educational strategies aimed at enhancing pre-service teachers' knowledge of climate change and health-related challenges, thereby enabling them to effectively impart this knowledge to their future students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75054,"journal":{"name":"The journal of climate change and health","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100434"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}