On May 24th, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), CICERO Center for International Climate Research, and the Norwegian Red Cross hosted a half-day seminar dedicated to exploring direct and indirect health impacts related to climate change. The seminar focused on how temperature and other indirect effects of climate change can impact cardiopulmonary morbidity, mortality, and hospital and emergency departments visits.
More than 70 participants assembled in Lindern’s auditorium along with more than 60 online viewers to hear presentations by researchers from CICERO and NIPH, policymakers from the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Environmental Agency, practitioners from the Norwegian Red Cross, and panelists from the public sector including the National Association for Heart and Lung Disease, Diakonhjemmet hospital, and climate units in Oslo and Bergen municipalities.
The seminar provided an in-depth look at research related to direct and indirect health effects related to climate change. While direct health effects from extreme weather phenomena such as heatwaves, flooding, hurricanes, dust storms, and wildfires are obvious, indirect health effects may have far-reaching and harmful costs to human health. Hotter temperatures can also lead to more wildfires reducing air quality thus intensifying heart and respiratory disease. This constellation of cascading effects has the added concern of disproportionately impacting vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, ill and vulnerable (e.g., pregnant women, children).
To assist in understanding these causal mechanisms, researchers described climate drivers, exposure pathways, health outcomes, and social, behavioral, environmental, and institutional contexts. CICERO’ Kristin Aunan focused on key findings from the recent IPCC Report while NIPH researcher Shilpa Rao focused on key findings on the impacts of temperature on cardiopulmonary health in Europe and Norway from the EXHAUSTION project. In contrast, practitioners provided personal narratives that brought these terms to life. In many European countries, for example, the Red Cross has transformed blood donation centers into cooling centers for reprieve during extended heat waves. As such, they offer cool environments to relax, rehydrate and rest. Similarly, a geriatric specialist recounted clinical examples of elderly living in isolation or with dementia that are prone to becoming dehydrated, disoriented, and dizzy thus leading to falls, hip fractures, and other accidents as a result of heat-induced climate change. In sum, the scientific framework and explanations provide valuable knowledge, but the personal stories brought the humanity of climate change into stark relief.
And from yet another perspective, NIPH, the Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Environmental Agency shared national aims, objectives, and commitments in addressing climate change and air pollution. There have been a number of initiatives in Norway focusing on climate change and air pollution but there is a need to research the full extent of addressing the benefits of climate adaptation. In addition, the climate burden of health institutions was addressed in some detail and the audience was informed about the longstanding efforts of Public Health England (PHE) in attaining a net zero greenhouse gas emissions national health service.
Additional key takeaways from the panelists’ presentations include:
There is a clear connection between temperature and mortality/morbidity for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases which is amplified by poor air quality.
Due to the ever-widening impact of climate on health, the term ‘climate sensitive diseases,’ has been introduced to capture the extent of diseases that are influenced by climate change.
Norway and the Nordic countries are hardly spared from effects related to heat waves in the future.
Public health systems should integrate climate change in their measures such as providing warning mechanisms and systems that alert the public to unsafe temperatures to prompt the public to take necessary precautions. There is a need for clear mechanisms for climate adaptation so that local measures can be implemented.
Although air pollution levels have been going down in Norway during the past few decades, there is a continued need to control air pollution to avoid additional exposure risks.
In sum, bringing together research, policy, and the public perspectives offers an important opportunity to increase our understanding and ability to find solutions. Synthesizing these different perspectives will hopefully contribute to effectively translating research and knowledge into climate adaptive action and preparedness practices.
A recording of the seminar and downloadable PDF versions of the presentations are available on CICERO’s website.
From left Kristin Aunan (CICERO), Marit Låg (NIPH), Johan Øvrevik (NIPH), Heidi Sørensen (Oslo municipality), Frode Jahren (the National Association for Heart and Lung Disease), Shilpa Rao (NIPH), Erlend Aasheim (Norwegian Directorate of Health), Cathrine Hårsaker (Norwegian Red Cross), Ane Kjørholt (Norwegian Environment Agency), Anette Hylen Ranhoff (Diakonhjemmet hospital), Miriam Stackpole Dahl (CICERO). Photo: CICERO
