Pillars of Governmental Environmental Public Health | A Guide to Scalable Environmental Public Health Programs
Meaningful Outcome Measures
Climate Health
PURPOSE
METRIC
Program effectiveness
• Percentage of vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, children, low- income individuals) covered by climate adaptation interventions annually • Number of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies implemented per year
Public health protection • Number of heat-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations per 100,000 population during extreme heat events per year. Partner engagement • Number of climate health
educational materials distributed or training sessions conducted per year • Number of formalized partnerships with other departments and organizations addressing climate change per year
Definition A climate health program can involve surveillance, assess- ment, planning, education, and response to health impacts related to climate change. Activities include monitoring climate-sensitive health outcomes, conducting vulnerabil- ity assessments, developing climate adaptation and mit- igation strategies, implementing education and outreach initiatives, collaborating with multiple sectors, and partic- ipating in emergency response related to climate events like extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and vectorborne disease outbreaks. Climate adaptation focuses on adjust- ing systems and communities to reduce vulnerability to current and expected climate impacts, while mitigation involves efforts to address the underlying causes of cli- mate change and prevent further impacts. Characteristics of a Successful Program A successful climate health program likely establishes clear metrics for tracking climate-related health impacts and vulnerabilities, integrates climate considerations into existing environmental health programs, and implements targeted interventions that protect vulnerable popula- tions. The program can build community resilience through education, partnerships, and policy advocacy while main- taining the capacity to respond to climate-related emer- gencies. Success might be demonstrated through reduced climate-related morbidity and mortality, especially among at-risk populations, and increased community understand- ing of climate health connections.
Climate health programs can track metrics that demon- strate both preparedness for climate impacts and effective- ness in reducing climate-related health burdens. Essential metrics include tracking climate-sensitive diseases (e.g., heat-related illnesses, vectorborne diseases), assessing community climate vulnerability, monitoring implementa- tion of adaptation measures, and evaluating emergency response effectiveness during climate events.
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