A Collaborative Framework Highlighting Climate-Sensitive Non-communicable Diseases in Urban Sub-Saharan Africa

Hanna Andrea Rother*, Clive E. Sabel, Sotiris Vardoulakis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Climate changeClimate changevulnerabilitiesAfrica are key environmental and social determinants of healthHealth, particularly in sub-Saharan AfricaAfrica where public healthHealth and other infrastructure are not yet geared towards counteracting the potential impacts of changing climates. HealthHealth-related climate changeClimate change adaptation researchResearch for sub-Saharan AfricaAfrica is limited and existing researchResearch is not effectively translated into practical advice for decision makers. A World UniversityUniversitiesNetworkNetwork (WUN) collaborationCollaboration project was started in 2016 to investigate climate changeClimate change impacts on non-communicable diseasesDisease (NCDs). This interdisciplinary collaborationCollaboration, established through the Healthy-Polis International Consortium for Urban Environmental HealthHealth and Sustainability focuses on the intersection of healthHealth, climate and sustainability within urban environmentsEnvironment through innovative researchResearch methods, co-production of knowledge, capacity building and intervention. NCDs like cancers, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular diseaseDisease and mental healthHealth are on the increase in sub-Saharan African urban areas and can be further aggravated by climate changeClimate change. If NCDs and the climate nexus are unaddressed, they will undermine achieving several of the Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment Goals (SDGs). Principally, we highlight climate-sensitive NCDs impacts on vulnerable populations, i.e. womenWomen, children, elderly, immune compromised and people with low socio-economic status, throughout their life course. We argue that interventions need to target disciplinary and sector ‘intersections’ for effective adaptation strategies. These interventions should be specifically linked to four SDGs, namely, SDG 3 (Good HealthHealth and Well-Being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable CitiesCities and CommunitiesCommunity) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). We conclude with capacity developmentDevelopment and policy guidance to strengthen sub-Saharan African countries ability to address climate-sensitive NCDs.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSustainable Development Goals Series
PublisherSpringer
Pages267-278
Number of pages12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Publication series

NameSustainable Development Goals Series
VolumePart F2651
ISSN (Print)2523-3084
ISSN (Electronic)2523-3092

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Multidisciplinary

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Non-communicable diseases
  • Sub-Saharan African
  • Sustainable development goals
  • Urban development

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