Meta analysis of research on climate change adaptation and health in southern Africa: Identifying research gaps

Abstract

Changes in climate and climate variability significantly affect the fundamentals of human health, most notably ecosystems, availability of fresh water, food quantity and quality. The occurrence and distribution of some infectious diseases and their impacts will also add to existing health burdens. Within the southern African region, vulnerable populations are expected to experience disproportionately greater health impacts due to climate change and variability. The most vulnerable include the poor (including women, youth, children etc) who lack access to adequate safe water and sanitation, land, credit or knowledge and those living in areas with declining biodiversity and food production capacities. The paper presents knowledge on the gaps and opportunities from existing local and regional studies and existing adaptation strategies (e.g. in terms of dissemination, implementation, translation, institutional capacity, theoretical aspects of adaptation etc). To ensure a robust management of the effects of climate change and variability on human health in the region, the paper builds on existing literature to identify gaps in knowledge of when, why and under what conditions climate adaptation occurs, as well as the factors that influence the success or failure of different adaptation strategies. Based on current research analysis we identify critical factors that influence the ability to respond to the effects of climate variations and change and initiate responses. Failure to respond will be costly in terms of disease, health-care expenditure and lost productivity. Finding creative “climate-change proofing” solutions and methods to deal with climate change and variability has become an urgent policy and intervention imperative, on a local, national and global scale. As such, adaptation advances will prove to be catalytic in addressing the impacts of climate change and variability.