Integration of Public Health with Adaptation to Climate Change: Lessons Learned and New Directions

Overall, the negative health impacts of global climate change are anticipated to significantly outweigh positive impacts. Furthermore, global climate change will continue for decades, even after the effective implementation of mitigation measures. By exploring cases in public health and prior lessons learned, this valuable title identifies the key adjustments necessary for public health systems to effectively adapt to this inevitable climate change. Touching on broader aspects of integrated assessment and environmental studies as well as climatic alterations and public health, this book is an essential resource for those involved in these fields at all levels.

Kristie L. Ebi, Ph.D., MPH is a Senior Managing Scientist at Exponent. Dr. Ebi is an epidemiologist specializing in research both on the potential impacts of global environmental change, including impacts associated with extreme events, thermal stress, and vector-borne diseases, and on the design of adaptation response options to reduce negative impacts. Dr Ebi has worked with the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health in Rome, Italy and received her PhD and MPH in Epidemiologic Science from The University of Michigan. She conducted two years of postgraduate research in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Joel B. Smith is a vice president with Stratus Consulting Inc. in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Mr. Smith has been analyzing climate change impacts and adaptation issues for over 15 years. Mr. Smith worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency from 1984-92, where he was the Deputy Director of the Agency's Climate Change Division. Mr. Smith received a BA from Williams College and an MPP from the University of Michigan.

Ian Burton is an independent scholar and consultant in the fields of adaptation to climate change, environmental risk assessment, natural hazards, and public policy. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto (where he was Director of the Institute for Environmental Studies) and Scientist Emeritus with the Meteorological Service of Canada, of Environment Canada (where he was Senior Policy Advisor and Director of the Impacts and Adaptation Research Group). Dr. Burton is a consultant with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the Canadian International Development Agency.