A better integration of health and economic impact assessments of climate change

• Published in: Environmental research letters Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 031004 - 31008
• Main Authors: Orlov, Anton, Schleypen, Jessie, Aunan, Kristin, Sillmann, Jana, Gasparrini, Antonio, Mistry, Malcolm N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 01-03-2024
• Subjects: Assessments; Climate change; Economic conditions; Economic impact; economy; Environmental assessment; Epidemiology; health; Impact analysis; model integration; Morbidity; Temperature effects; health; economy; model integration; climate change
• ISSN: 1748-9326; 1748-9326
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad29a9

Climate change could lead to high economic burden for individuals (i.e. low income and high prices). While economic conditions are important determinants of climate change vulnerability, environmental epidemiological studies focus primarily on the direct impact of temperature on morbidity and mortality without accounting for climate-induced impacts on the economy. More integrated approaches are needed to provide comprehensive assessments of climate-induced direct and indirect impacts on health. This paper provides some perspectives on how epidemiological and economic impact assessments could be better integrated. We argue that accounting for the economic repercussions of climate change on people's health and, vice versa, the consequences of health effects on the economy could provide more realistic scenario projections and could be more useful for adaptation policy.