Climate Adaptation Resources

What is public health’s role in climate adaptation?

Even if we could stop all CO2 emissions today, most aspects of climate change are predicted to persist for centuries to come. This requires us to reevaluate our priorities and adjust how we plan for the future. Climate adaptation means making changes in our behaviors, practices, policies, and systems so that we are better positioned to address challenges as they arise.

Our role within public health is to incorporate climate change considerations into everything we do.  We are challenged to identify where our greatest health risks exist and take measures to protect and prepare our most vulnerable populations. To do this, we must investigate and promote adaptation strategies that minimize risk and maximize our collective potential to thrive in a changing climate. Public health professionals can forge new collaborations and take a leadership role in addressing and communicating the human health impacts of climate change.

Selected Adaptation Resources

In Oregon

• Oregon Adaptation Framework
• Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
• Oregon Department of Transportation’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Report
  
• Preparing Oregon’s Fish, Wildlife and Habitats for Future Climate Change Report
  
• Oregon Public Health Preparedness
  
• Upstream Public Health

Pacific Northwest Region

• PNW Tribal Climate Change Network
• North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative
• Climate Impacts Group
• Cascade Climate Network

National and International

• CDC’s Climate Ready States & Cities Initiative
• APHA Guidebook on Climate Change and Public Health
• ASTHO's Climate Change Collaborative
  
• NRDC’s Climate Change Health Threats Initiative
• The Resource Innovation Group
  
• National Association of County and City Health Officials Climate Change Work Group
• EcoAdapt
• Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange
• Prevention Institute’s Tool for Health and Resilience In Vulnerable Environments
  

These links are provided for informational purposes. The inclusion of any website here does not constitute or imply its endorsement by the Oregon Health Authority. OHA does not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on these linked websites, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the official views of OHA.