Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study

Background: Local authorities have a crucial role in building community resilience to the health effects of a changing climate. Support in achieving local action can be provided through improving available public health intelligence to inform decision making. We aimed to co-develop with a local auth...

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Main Authors: J. Howkins, Daniela N. Schmidt, James Thomas, Robert Hayward, Y.T. Eunice Lo, Jeffrey Neal, James Lewis, Elspeth Carruthers, Samuel Coleborn, Virginia Murray, Isabel Oliver
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Public Health in Practice
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000867
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author J. Howkins
Daniela N. Schmidt
James Thomas
Robert Hayward
Y.T. Eunice Lo
Jeffrey Neal
James Lewis
Elspeth Carruthers
Samuel Coleborn
Virginia Murray
Isabel Oliver
author_facet J. Howkins
Daniela N. Schmidt
James Thomas
Robert Hayward
Y.T. Eunice Lo
Jeffrey Neal
James Lewis
Elspeth Carruthers
Samuel Coleborn
Virginia Murray
Isabel Oliver
author_sort J. Howkins
collection DOAJ
description Background: Local authorities have a crucial role in building community resilience to the health effects of a changing climate. Support in achieving local action can be provided through improving available public health intelligence to inform decision making. We aimed to co-develop with a local authority a tool mapping vulnerability to climate related hazards. Methods: We conducted a feasibility study, exploring through stakeholder engagement local priorities and levers for action in adaptation that could be informed by provision of increased intelligence. This informed co-development of a proof-of-concept tool. Results: Stakeholders reported needs in better understanding the intersection between vulnerability and hazard to facilitate partnership working, decision making, and targeting of interventions. We developed a mapping tool, using nationally available data, overlaying a vulnerability index with hazard (heat and flooding) exposure. Conclusions: Mapping tools are feasible methods by which public health intelligence to support climate change adaptation planning can be shared. Barriers to action may result from the complexity of vulnerability, concerns of unintended consequences, and resource constraints. Co-development with local expertise is necessary to ensure that outputs add value to local response. This tool will now be piloted to gather feedback on useability, usefulness, and potential improvements.
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issn 2666-5352
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-891ce04cda00441088ad5e3a973e8ff22024-12-12T05:23:28ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522024-12-018100549Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility studyJ. Howkins0Daniela N. Schmidt1James Thomas2Robert Hayward3Y.T. Eunice Lo4Jeffrey Neal5James Lewis6Elspeth Carruthers7Samuel Coleborn8Virginia Murray9Isabel Oliver10UK Health Security Agency, London, UK; Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK; Corresponding author. UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.School of Earth Science, University of Bristol, UKJean Golding Institute, University of Bristol, UKDepartment for People, South Gloucestershire Council, UKCabot Institute for the Environment and Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol, UKSchool of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK; Fathom, Clifton Heights, Triangle West, Clifton, Bristol, UKData Analytics & Surveillance, UK Health Security Agency, London, UKUK Health Security Agency, London, UK; Whittington Hospital, London, UKJean Golding Institute, University of Bristol, UKUK Health Security Agency, London, UKUK Health Security Agency, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol Medical School, School of Population Health Sciences, Bristol, UKBackground: Local authorities have a crucial role in building community resilience to the health effects of a changing climate. Support in achieving local action can be provided through improving available public health intelligence to inform decision making. We aimed to co-develop with a local authority a tool mapping vulnerability to climate related hazards. Methods: We conducted a feasibility study, exploring through stakeholder engagement local priorities and levers for action in adaptation that could be informed by provision of increased intelligence. This informed co-development of a proof-of-concept tool. Results: Stakeholders reported needs in better understanding the intersection between vulnerability and hazard to facilitate partnership working, decision making, and targeting of interventions. We developed a mapping tool, using nationally available data, overlaying a vulnerability index with hazard (heat and flooding) exposure. Conclusions: Mapping tools are feasible methods by which public health intelligence to support climate change adaptation planning can be shared. Barriers to action may result from the complexity of vulnerability, concerns of unintended consequences, and resource constraints. Co-development with local expertise is necessary to ensure that outputs add value to local response. This tool will now be piloted to gather feedback on useability, usefulness, and potential improvements.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000867
spellingShingle J. Howkins
Daniela N. Schmidt
James Thomas
Robert Hayward
Y.T. Eunice Lo
Jeffrey Neal
James Lewis
Elspeth Carruthers
Samuel Coleborn
Virginia Murray
Isabel Oliver
Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
Public Health in Practice
title Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
title_full Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
title_fullStr Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
title_full_unstemmed Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
title_short Mapping vulnerability to climate-related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation: A feasibility study
title_sort mapping vulnerability to climate related hazards to inform local authority action in adaptation a feasibility study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000867
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