Health Impact Assessment
Theme Leader:
Søren Løkke, Associate Professor, Aalborg University
Theme description:
The direct and indirect effects of climate change on health have become central issues for public health systems and research. Deeper and consistent engagement with other sectors will assist understanding of the expected health effects and importantly the promotion of mitigation and adaptation measures that are equitable and healthy.
The WHO “European Regional Framework for Action1” establishes a comprehensive workplan to protect health in a changing environment: one of its key tools is “Health Impact Assessment” (HIA). HIA is well positioned to assist decision makers and public health officials in the development of frameworks to address climate change.
HIA has not been applied systematically, nor has it been applied across the full spectrum of proposed policies, plans, programmes, projects and actions. Several points remain open for debate. These issues will be addressed during the symposium.
The objective of this theme is to foster the debate on HIA and climate change and to promote the practical application of HIA in the climate change decision making process.
Questions:
- What should be included in an assessment of the impacts of climate change on people’s health and their communities? This could lead to the development of detailed and systematic guidelines.
- Can HIA make better use of cost effectiveness analysis to promote better health inclusion? This could guide to the holistic assessment of damages, adaptation costs and benefit gained.
- HIA of adaptation and mitigation recommendations: are we supporting co-benefits or are we producing co-damages?
- How can HIA assist the greening of the health sector in order to include climate change issues in its own planning?
- Finally how can HIA of policies related to other sectors address climate change?
Participation requirements:
Please contact theme leaders if you are interested in contributing to this theme.