Article
Environmental Sciences
Mary C. Sheehan, Mila Freire, Gerardo Sanchez Martinez
Summary: Research found that the majority of "active adapter" cities' actions are related to health, with half being health information activities and nearly one-third addressing climate-relevant health determinants in the urban built environment. 40% of the cities were in low- or middle-income countries. The proposed typology provides a systematic framework for monitoring and comparing city health adaptation actions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cat Hartwell, Sam Lovell, Jeremy J. Hess, Kathleen Dolan, Jamie Vickery, Nicole A. Errett
Summary: Using an implementation science framework, this study aimed to understand and define the barriers and facilitators that determine the breadth and success of climate change and health activities undertaken by state health agencies (SHAs). The study identified funding, state and agency-level prioritization, staff capability and capacity, and political will and polarization as factors that influence the readiness for implementation and implementation climate for climate and health activities. Findings from this study have implications for public health policy and highlight potential pathways to expand support for climate and health activities in S/THAs in the U.S.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Kristie L. Ebi
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change is impacting global population health and wellbeing, requiring increased investments in adaptation and mitigation. However, medical research councils worldwide have provided minimal funding for environmental health research, hindering the ability to effectively protect vulnerable populations and regions in the face of a changing climate.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diane Z. Chase, Jose Lobo, Gary M. Feinman, David M. Carballo, Arlen F. Chase, Adrian S. Z. Chase, Scott R. Hutson, Alanna Ossa, Marcello Canuto, Travis W. Stanton, L. J. Gorenflo, Christopher A. Pool, Barbara Arroyo, Rodrigo Liendo Stuardo, Deborah L. Nichols
Summary: Urban adaptation to climate change is a global challenge. Efforts to leverage insights from the urban past have been hindered by disciplinary silos and misconceptions about prehistoric urban settlements, especially in prehispanic Mesoamerica. However, advances in archaeology have significantly enhanced our understanding of prehispanic urbanism in Mesoamerica, highlighting its resilience and adaptation to environmental change. This calls for a dialogue among urban archaeologists, sustainability scientists, and researchers interested in urban adaptation to climate change, aiming to shift the focus from failure and collapse to resilience and factors that fostered adaptation and sustainability.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alessandro Ossola, G. Darrel Jenerette, Andrew McGrath, Winston Chow, Lesley Hughes, Michelle R. Leishman
Summary: The study found that vegetation in cities can significantly reduce local land surface temperatures during summer heatwaves, especially tree canopy cover. Additionally, even small vegetation patches in urban landscapes can have a moderate cooling effect on temperatures.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Vargas-Parada
Summary: There is a strong relationship between climate and human diseases, and changes in climate may affect disease patterns. Climate modelling can be used to predict future disease outbreaks, but there are obstacles to implementing such systems.
Article
Anthropology
Stephanie B. Levy, Tatiana M. Klimova, Raisa N. Zakharova, Afanasiy I. Fedorov, Valentina I. Fedorova, Marina E. Baltakhinova, William R. Leonard
Summary: The study suggests that early childhood is a critical period for developmental plasticity, and culture may influence the timing of environmental signals.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Pauline F. D. Scheelbeek, Alan D. Dangour, Stephanie Jarmul, Grace Turner, Anne J. Sietsma, Jan C. Minx, Max Callaghan, Idowu Ajibade, Stephanie E. Austin, Robbert Biesbroek, Kathryn J. Bowen, Tara Chen, Katy Davis, Tim Ensor, James D. Ford, Eranga K. Galappaththi, Elphin T. Joe, Issah J. Musah-Surugu, Gabriela Nagle Alverio, Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle, Pratik Pokharel, Eunice A. Salubi, Giulia Scarpa, Alcade C. Segnon, Mariella Sina, Sienna Templeman, Jiren Xu, Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo, Lea Berrang-Ford
Summary: In many low- and middle-income countries, responses to climate change adaptation have shown positive impacts on health outcomes, such as reducing infectious disease incidence, improving access to water and sanitation, and enhancing food security. However, the lack of formal evaluations and standardized reporting in these studies indicates a missed opportunity for comprehensive understanding and policy action on the health effects of climate change adaptation responses.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nicole A. Errett, Cat Hartwell, Juliette M. Randazza, Amruta Nori-Sarma, Kate R. Weinberger, Keith R. Spangler, Yuantong Sun, Quinn H. Adams, Gregory A. Wellenius, Jeremy J. Hess
Summary: This research characterizes municipal interventions to extreme heat events (EHEs) and compares jurisdictions in the United States with and without heat action plans (HAPs). The survey results show that 60.5% of the jurisdictions have developed a HAP, with 95.7% of them including plans for opening cooling centers. Communication approaches mainly rely on passive, technology-dependent mechanisms. There are some differences in heat-related activities between jurisdictions with and without a written HAP, but the statistical significance is limited due to the small sample size.
Article
Agronomy
Kylie Tavares, Emilie Kirk, Sharon Motomura-Wages, Justin Calpito, Jon-Paul Bingham, Amjad A. Ahmad, Kevin Flanagan, Jensen Uyeda, Michael B. Kantar, Theodore J. K. Radovich
Summary: Turmeric and its constituent curcuminoid compounds have been traditionally used for their medicinal properties. Recent studies have confirmed their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic properties. Our research in Hawaii suggests that turmeric yield is influenced by genotype and environmental factors, with suboptimal temperatures at high elevations impacting yield. However, high yielding turmeric varieties show adaptability across diverse environments, but further evaluations are needed in non-optimal environments and high pest pressure areas.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sandra Barteit, Ali Sie, Pascal Zabre, I Traore, Windpanga Aristide Ouedraogo, Valentin Boudo, Stephen Munga, Sammy Khagayi, David Obor, Erick Muok, Jonas Franke, Maximilian Schwarz, Klaus Blass, Tin Tin Su, Till Baernighausen, Osman Sankoh, Rainer Sauerborn
Summary: Climate change significantly impacts health in LMICs, and comprehensive data is crucial but scarce. The CHEERS framework, utilizing wearable devices and remotely sensed data, has shown promising results in predicting crop yield, studying the impact of extreme weather on health, and identifying the need for interventions to mitigate adverse health consequences.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
So-Min Cheong, Valentina A. Assenova
Summary: The study found that in new disasters, the diversity of individual knowledge, community external orientation, and internal cohesion can promote resource utilization. These characteristics help individuals and communities absorb information and knowledge, and devise adaptation strategies.
Article
Ecology
Tobias Kruse, Giles Atkinson
Summary: This study explores public attitudes and preferences towards the allocation of adaptation funds and finds that the public is more inclined to allocate funds to the most impoverished individuals and supports the "ability-to-pay" approach for funding. Additionally, the study shows that communicating future benefits to UK residents can increase policy support. However, public support for global climate adaptation payments is still inadequate.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fatema Khatun, Md. Nasif Ahsan, Sonia Afrin, Jeroen Warner, Reazul Ahsan, Bishawjit Mallick, Pankaj Kumar
Summary: Despite the adverse impacts of climate change and human-induced hazards, many people in hazard-prone coastal areas of Bangladesh choose not to migrate. This study examines the factors influencing voluntary non-migration decisions and finds that those who choose to stay benefit from access to basic needs and social support in their communities. Additionally, the social, psychological, and economic opportunities available at their current location, as well as their access to local natural resources, contribute to their desire to stay and adapt to climatic shocks.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS
(2022)
Article
Economics
Junjun Hou, Chenggang Wang, Huixia Wang, Peng Zhang
Summary: This study examines the effects of temperature exposure on mental health in a developing country using data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The findings suggest that higher temperatures lead to worse mental health. However, the impact can be mitigated by the installation of air conditioning. The study also explores the mechanisms through which temperature affects mental health.
CHINA ECONOMIC REVIEW
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sherilee L. Harper, Ashlee Cunsolo, Amreen Babujee, Shaugn Coggins, Mauricio Dominguez Aguilar, Carlee J. Wright
Summary: This study aims to systematically investigate the evidence base of climate and health in North America, utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods for screening and analysis.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Briana N. M. Hagen, Alex Sawatzky, Sherilee L. Harper, Terri L. O'Sullivan, Andria Jones-Bitton
Summary: This study aimed to explore motivations and barriers to help-seeking for mental health among farmers, through interviews with farmers and individuals who work with farmers. The analysis revealed five main themes: Accessibility of mental health supports and services, Stigma around mental health in the agricultural community, Anonymity and/or lack of anonymity in seeking support, Farm credibility, and Recommendations for implementing mental health services for the agricultural community. Insights were provided on how farming culture and service accessibility may affect help-seeking behaviors, along with proposed strategies to address barriers in this population.
JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amy B. Caughey, Jan M. Sargeant, Helle Moller, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: Inuit communities in the Circumpolar North have undergone a nutrition transition from traditional country food to market food, leading to concerns about reduced diet quality and increased chronic diseases. Research on the impact of Inuit country food on health during pregnancy and childhood has increased over time, with a focus on environmental contaminants and nutrient adequacy, indicating a need for further exploration of food security and safety in this population.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julia M. Bryson, Kaitlin Patterson, Lea Berrang-Ford, Shuaib Lwasa, Didacus B. Namanya, Sabastian Twesigomwe, Charity Kesande, James D. Ford, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: In rural Uganda, climate change has negatively impacted the food security of pregnant women, leading to food insecurity and associated maternal-infant health issues. While all communities described challenges with food security, Indigenous women faced more severe issues.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Danielle A. Julien, Jan M. Sargeant, Catherine Filejski, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: This study discovered that dogs are potential carriers of many zoonotic diseases. In southern Ontario, Canada, 36.44% of households acquired domestically sourced dogs, mostly from within Ontario. Imported dogs accounted for 2.74%, with most originating from the USA. Urban households were 1.93 times more likely to import dogs compared to rural households.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura Jane Brubacher, Lea Berrang-Ford, Sierra Clark, Kaitlin Patterson, Shuaib Lwasa, Didacus B. Namanya, Sabastian Twesigomwe, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: The Batwa in Kanungu District, Uganda, face diverse health-seeking behaviors for acute gastrointestinal illness, influenced by physical and economic access to care, as well as perceived efficacy and quality of care. Barriers exist for Batwa individuals in accessing both biomedical and Indigenous healthcare, impacting their healthcare decisions and outcomes.
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vivienne Steele, Kaitlin Patterson, Lea Berrang-Ford, Nia King, Manisha Kulkarni, Shuaib Lwasa, Didacus B. Namanya, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: The scoping review highlighted the importance of context-specific barriers to ANC access for East African women during the Millennium Development Goals initiative. While the number of relevant articles increased over time, gaps in the literature exist, particularly in terms of limited qualitative research and exploration of ANC experiences for vulnerable populations of women. Interventions should focus on improving the quality of ANC care and patient-provider interactions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for maternal health by 2030.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
David Borish, Ashlee Cunsolo, Jamie Snook, Cate Dewey, Ian Mauro, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: This article used a scoping review methodology to examine the connection between Rangifer and Indigenous well-being in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America. The study revealed a depth and diversity of knowledge on how Rangifer affects Indigenous culture, food security, livelihoods, psychological well-being, and social connections. However, gaps were found in understanding the psychological ties between Rangifer and Indigenous Peoples and the implications of Rangifer-related change on Indigenous well-being and adaptive capacity. The study highlights the urgent need for further research and greater inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in understanding Indigenous Rangifer relationships.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Amy Caughey, Pitsiula Kilabuk, Igah Sanguya, Michelle Doucette, Martha Jaw, Jean Allen, Lily Maniapik, Theresa Koonoo, Wanda Joy, Jamal Shirley, Jan M. Sargeant, Helle Moller, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: The history of health research in Inuit communities in Canada has had unethical and colonizing practices, but recent reforms have focused on ethical and community-driven research. This study describes the process of developing a research program guided by the National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) to address food security, nutrition, and climate change. The study identifies key elements to support community-led research and provides recommendations for funding agencies to align funding with community priorities.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Katy Davis, James D. Ford, Claire H. Quinn, Anuszka Mosurska, Melanie Flynn, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: Little research has focused on the experiences of people for whom travel is cyclical and a part of daily life. This study examines the barriers to travel for Inuit in Arctic North America and identifies historic and contemporary colonial policy and inequality as root causes, impacting people's mobility and well-being.
Article
Area Studies
Matthew Pike, Ashlee Cunsolo, Andrew Papadopoulos, Sherilee Harper
Summary: Natural resource developments in Inuit Nunangat have both positive and negative impacts on community health and well-being. The study analyzed 58 articles to map trends in published research on the relationship between resource development and health in the region. The results show that Nunavut was the most discussed region, mining and/or mineral exploration was the most commonly discussed development, and government policies are significant factors in the relationship between development and well-being.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kaitlin Patterson, Lea Berrang-Ford, Shuaib Lwasa, Didacus B. Namanya, James Ford, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: This study aims to examine the food insecurity of the Indigenous Batwa people in Uganda using the household as a scale of analysis. The results of the survey show a high prevalence of food insecurity among the Batwa, with low variation explained by household and community factors. Scale dependency should be considered in food insecurity analyses.
JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Breanne Aylward, Ashlee Cunsolo, Rachael Vriezen, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: This scoping review investigates the published research on climate-mental health interactions in North America and finds that the interaction between climate hazards and social vulnerabilities leads to increased mental health risks. The study also highlights the gaps in the evidence base for climate-mental health in North America and calls for further research to support preparation and adaptation to climate change impacts on mental health.
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
David Borish, Ashlee Cunsolo, Ian Mauro, Cate Dewey, Sherilee L. Harper
Summary: This article discusses the methodology of using documentary film as a qualitative research strategy, focusing on its impact on project conceptualization, collaboration, data collection, and analysis. It highlights the flexibility and capacity of documentary film to create high impact storytelling outputs and mobilize knowledge for specific target audiences.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Emma Finlayson-Trick, Bronwyn Barker, Selina Manji, Sherilee L. Harper, Cedric P. Yansouni, David M. Goldfarb
Summary: Climate change in the Canadian Arctic is impacting the outbreaks of enteric pathogens, exacerbating livelihood threats to local Indigenous Peoples, and requiring appropriate prevention and surveillance strategies to be implemented.
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
(2021)
