4. Knowledge, Products & Services
Participants were also asked what information they currently use to make decisions on climate change. Most frequently mentioned types of resources used include grey literature (e.g., agency reports, frameworks), best practices and lessons learned from other public health professionals, and scientific literature and data (e.g., models, maps) (Table 4).
Table 4. Resources currently used to make decisions by interviewees & survey respondents (n=54).
Grey literature (e.g., agency plans) 61%
Best practices/lessons learned 57%
Scientific literature 46%
Models (e.g., atmospheric, ecosystem, economic) 44%
Spatial data 33%
Traditional knowledge 31%
61%
57%
46%
44%
33%
31%
Additional resources needed to better address climate change in public health include case study examples from on-the-ground initiatives, trainings and webinars, and information on how to better communicate climate-related health impacts to the public (Table 5).
Table 5. Resources needed to more effectively take action on climate change as expressed by interviewees & survey respondents (n=54).
Best practices/case studies
Trainings or webinars
Information on how to communicate climate change to the public and engage stakeholders
Decision support tools for the purpose of integrating climate change and other stressors
Guidance on how to integrate climate change into planning and management
Expert networks/associations
50%
44%
41%
37%
35%
20%
Participants were also asked to identify specific resources and tools they use to make decisions on climate change (Table 6).
Table 6. Resources & tools used by respondents.
National Climate Assessment (2014, 2018)
Climate Change, Health, and Equity: A Guide For Local Health Departments
BRACE framework, webinars & tools
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment reports
Global Warming’s Six Americas, October 2014: Perceptions of the Health Consequences of Global Warming & Update on Key Beliefs
2016 Climate & Health Assessment
Sustainable & Climate Resilient Health Care Facilities Toolkit
National Integrated Heat Health Information System
Emergency Preparedness & Response: Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
Assessing Health Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Guide for Health Departments
Excessive Heat Events Guidebook
Climate Change & Human Health Literature Portal
Communicating the Health Effects of Climate Change
U.S. Global Change Research Program, 2014 & 2018
American Public Health Association & Public Health Institute Center for Climate Change & Health
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Yale Program on Climate Change & Communication
U.S. Global Change Research Program
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, CDC, Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences