Emine Didem Evci Kiraz

Title : Key points, practical, cheap, and sustainable actions for health sensitive adaptation policy for urban and rural governance

Abstract:

When IPCC, Lancet Countdown and WHO reports are examined; vulnerability and risk analyses gain importance in the adaptation part of the twin actions of climate change. Vulnerability consists of sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The sensitivity and adaptive capacity of populations (human, animal, environment, system, service, etc.) are important for a healthy and safety future. The Health Sensitive Adaptation (HSAclimate) approach will shape the future. Key points for HSAclimate are; health impact chain of climate change, climate determinants of health, list of climate-sensitive diseases, climate-informed surveillance and public health early warning systems to protect health from the effects of climate change, climate-sensitive health policies (manpower, training, plan, program, project and budget) and others. Urban and rural governance should be able to produce HSAclimate policies that cover the entire population with practical, cheap, and sustainable actions. Since mitigation policies are at the forefront until COP28; Adaptation strategies and action plans that put health at the center and address health as the main topic remained in the minority. The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health emphasizes the appropriate inclusion of a health perspective in any future studies on climate policies. It is necessary to quickly find answers to questions such as how it will happen, with what methodology, and who will do it. Without Practical, Cheap, and Sustainable Actions for Health Sensitive Adaptation Policy for Urban and Rural Governance, the desired speed cannot be achieved and adaptation will again be overshadowed by mitigation. Health is more than a sector, it is everything. Adaptation actions in climate change are the main actions to protect health. Every action that is not carried out means increased disease, loss of function and disability, and death.

Audience Take Away:

• Health impact chain of climate change
• Climate determinants of health
• List of climate-sensitive diseases
• Climate-informed surveillance and public health early warning systems to protect health from the effects of climate change
• Climate-sensitive health policies
• Health vulnerability and risk assessment
• HSAclimate
• Health in climate change adaptation strategies and actions
• Health Guidance for policy makers

Biography:

Prof. E. Didem Evci Kiraz is a medical doctor and academician in Public Health Department of Aydın Adnan Menderes University in Türkiye. She is one of the experts in the field of "Environmental Health" and “Climate and Health” in Türkiye. She is a member of the Scientific Committee of WHO (Healthy City) and Advisory Board of the Healthy Cities Association of Türkiye. She is working as a "Health Sector Expert" in the UNDP Adaptation to Climate Change Project. She is editor of two international journals: Climate and Health; City and Health. She has published more than 100 scientific publications.