Health co-benefits of climate change adaptation in cities
Citation: Sharifi A, Pathak M, Joshi C, et al. A systematic review of the health co-benefits of urban climate change adaptation. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021;74:103190.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: No.
Funding sources: The authors reported no external funding for this review.
What is this? In this systematic review, the authors searched for publications on the health co-benefits of climate change adaptation in cities. They restricted their searches to articles that described urban areas with at least one adaptation to climate change, and which considered the health benefits of that adaptation. The authors searched in November 2019 and found 245 publications.
What was found: Nature-based solutions, urban planning measures that promoted walking, and building design contributed many health benefits, such as clean air, reduced heat stress, enhanced physical activity, and improved mental health. Early warning systems for climate events reduced health risks and mortality, which emphasised the importance of integrating them into urban planning and public health.
Implications: The authors of the review stated that decision-makers should focus on actions with greater benefits, especially those related to infrastructure, nature-based solutions, planning, and design. Future research should document health trade-offs, their impact on vulnerable populations, and actions to mitigate those trade-offs.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of place of residence, socioeconomic status, and social capital.
This summary was prepared by Maya Magdy Abdelwahab, checked by Ana Pizarro and Jawaria Karim, and finalized by William Summerskill.