Assessing the public health impact of climate change in Wales

Abstract

In April 2019, Wales declared a climate emergency. Public Health Wales commissioned a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to assess the potential impact of Climate Change on the population of Wales to be carried out to inform key strategic decision makers to understand/plan for the potential differential health impacts that may occur in Wales from climate change.A comprehensive mixed-method HIA was conducted over a 6-month period in 2019/20. A review of peer-reviewed evidence on the potential impact of climate change/climate change events on health and population groups and a review of grey literature on direct impacts such as the environment, mental wellbeing and health care settings was conducted. The search was undertaken using MEDLINE, Embase, Proquest. 2 stakeholder workshops, qualitative interviews, a community health profile utilising recognised data sources (i.e. The National Survey for Wales) and a survey to identify the publics' views on climate change were also carried out. All findings were analysed, synthesized and collated into a report.The HIA initial findings indicate significant potential impacts across the wider determinants of health and mental well-being i.e. Air quality, excess heat/cold; flooding; economic productivity; working conditions; access to services; infrastructure; and community resilience. A range of impacts were identified across population groups, settings, geographical areas including urban and rural contexts; outdoor workers; children and young people; older people; schools; hospitals/care homes and workplaces.The impacts identified are both confirmed and potential. Undertaken in a short timeframe, the findings have been beneficial to inform decision-makers to prepare for Climate Change plans/policies using an evidence-informed approach. The work has demonstrated the value of a HIA approach for significant, complex policies by mobilising a range of evidence through a transparent process, resulting in transferrable learning for others.