How behavioural changes can help deal with the health impacts of climate change to achieve SDG 13 (climate action)
Abstract
Climate change is a major public health issue in the 21st century, and the links between climate change and health are increasingly becoming recognised by researchers and policy-makers. Interventions aimed at promoting sustainable behaviours, that is, reducing harmful activities and inducing pro-environmental action as well as adaptive capacities, can be diverse in targeting changes in culture, feedback loops and technological development. A focus on changing both individual and collective behaviours is indispensable to reduce the negative impacts on health. This overview outlines the connections between climate change, health and behavioural change and discusses how such changes can assist in efforts towards handling the impacts of climate change. This is of particular relevance as it relates to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (Climate Action) and, simultaneously, contribute also to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Focusing on the health benefits of pro-environmental action today may pave the way for improvements. A holistic climate change response, however, needs to consider health concerns from a multisectoral perspective and engage stakeholders at all levels-from neighbourhood communities to international structures as health challenges linked to climate change intensify.
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