There is growing evidence that climate change adversely affects human health. Multiple diseases are sensitive to climate change, many of which are also leading causes of death globally. Despite this clear connection, current policies addressing health and climate change often operate in silos, lacking the necessary integration to effectively tackle these intertwined challenges. The fragmentation in efforts leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for comprehensive solutions. To truly mitigate the impacts of climate change on health, a holistic approach is essential—one that is grounded in a strong evidence base and fosters coordinated action across sectors. With 2024 marking the first calendar year where temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the urgency for effective, integrated policies has never been greater.
Integrating climate and health policies
The recent report from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia and the Grantham Research Institute, highlights the critical need for integrating climate and health policies in the United Kingdom (launch webinar). Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the project has been looking at how health and climate policies can be integrated to address the interconnected challenges they present. What it found is that, while these policies often reference each other, there is a noticeable lack of integration between policies. This disconnect is not unique to the UK but is a trend observed globally. Both health and climate change are highly complex issues, characterized by numerous interdependencies and multifaceted impacts, making their integration both challenging and essential.
Data driven decision making
In the Tyndall report one of the very many issues they highlight is the ongoing discussion around the evidence base required for effective policymaking. There are significant issues regarding the appropriateness and adequacy of evidence needed to inform policy decisions, be they health or for climate change. This includes the type of evidence that is relevant to specific situations and the level of evidence required to support robust policy commitments – as. we emphasize in our “Heat, Health, and Human Genetics” report. We are particularly interested in this while we explore which research priorities and key research questions need to be addressed.
Evidence-based policy making in health and climate change is about integrating scientific data into the policy-making process to improve health outcomes. It involves systematically reviewing and appraising research to guide decisions. Although policy decisions are not solely based on evidence; they involve an intricate mix of considerations, including political, economic, and social factors. Policymakers often face challenges in determining which circumstances and evidence is most appropriate and how to apply policy decisions effectively. Despite these challenges, high quality informative data plays an important role in guiding these decisions. It provides a robust foundation for making informed decisions, identifying trends, and predicting outcomes. This ensures policies are grounded in reality and can lead to more effective and equitable solutions.
Evidence policy gap
But where do we start? Where should efforts be focused? A circular dilemma exists in data for policy: researchers need to know what evidence policymakers need, while policymakers require specific evidence to guide their efforts. This creates a situation where the lack of clear evidence hampers informed policy decisions, and without these decisions, it’s difficult to determine what evidence is needed.
This is the “evidence-policy gap” challenge – the disconnect between the evidence produced by researchers and the needs or actions of policymakers. This gap can be due to differences in priorities, timelines, and communication styles.
Effective evidence-based policymaking requires collaboration between researchers and policymakers, clear communication of findings, and consideration of the political and social context. It also involves using persuasive techniques to translate complex evidence into actionable policies. Recognising that perfect evidence is rarely attainable, policymakers also accommodate imperfect evidence and make decisions based on the best available data. Whilst acknowledging these issues, policymakers can make more informed decisions grounded in robust evidence, leading to more effective and sustainable health and climate policies.
This underscores the critical need for strategic and policy guidance to drive the integration of health and climate policies. To address these challenges, existing evidence must be used effectively through better coordination and integration of research findings into the policymaking process. Additionally, developing research questions that address policymakers’ requirements is essential. Prioritisation, coordination with clear oversight for focus areas can ensure that policies are aligned and mutually reinforcing, creating a cohesive approach that maximises benefits for both health and the environment. Effective facilitation with a directive to set priorities can bridge the policies to deliver the collaboration necessary to ensure successfully implementation.
For example in the UK it has been shown that air pollution results in an increase in lung cancer cases, even among non-smokers. Air pollution has been linked to lung cancer before but the severity and extent of the contribution was previously unclear, and it is much more than previously thought. Addressing air pollution is a multifaceted challenge that requires comprehensive strategies considering numerous factors. Policymakers would need to navigate the intricate interplay of environmental, economic, and social elements to effectively address air pollution. Efficiently addressing air pollution can simultaneously lower the incidence of lung cancer and combat climate change, but it demands a multisector, coordinated and nuanced approach.
Innovation for data generation
To address the intertwined challenges of health and climate change, affordable and accessible innovative data collection approaches could have a vital role. Leveraging technologies and methodologies, such as AI, can provide the robust evidence needed to inform and shape effective policies. Cost-effective monitoring systems, community-based interventions, and scalable technologies are crucial. Embracing innovation helps capture the complexities of these issues, ensuring policy decisions are grounded in comprehensive and accurate data.
For example low-cost sensors can monitor environmental conditions in climate affected areas providing real-time data on air quality, temperature, humidity, and other parameters at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. Household air pollutant exposure remains under-quantified globally, and awareness of indoor air pollution risks is needed. Deploying these devices in vulnerable regions can gather robust health impact data and empower communities to participate in data collection and advocacy, fostering a more inclusive approach to climate and health challenges.
Understanding the direct health effects to better manage them
One of the significant challenges in climate change and health policy is the tendency to focus on treating the symptoms of climate-related health issues without fully understanding the underlying processes that drive these health issues. For example, while air conditioners can provide immediate relief from heat, this is not a sustainable solution, not available to all, contributes to the climate change problem and is likely not the most efficient response.
To develop more effective policies, it is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to health issues. This includes, for example, biological processes of thermoregulation — how the human body regulates its temperature. By gaining a deeper understanding of these mechanisms, we can identify who is most vulnerable to heat stress and develop targeted interventions that do not solely depend on lowering environmental temperatures.
Research into thermoregulation can inform guidelines on hydration, clothing, and activity levels during extreme heat. It can also lead to the design of cooling strategies that enhance the body’s natural cooling processes, such as fabrics, shaded areas, water features, and improved ventilation in buildings. India has started to deploy specialized heat-stroke emergency rooms to protect vulnerable populations from the immediate dangers of heat waves. The data collected from these facilities can provide valuable understanding of the health effects that in turn would further inform future policies and interventions, ensuring that health systems are better prepared to cope with the impacts of climate change.
By focusing on both understanding and addressing the root causes of climate-related health issues, policymakers can create more sustainable and effective solutions. Understanding health impacts will involve continuous data collection and research to identify biological processes, those who are vulnerable and enable the assessment of the effectiveness of interventions. The continuous strain from climate change events such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires will affect people’s health. We need to prepare for the impact this will have.