CSIC Research Associate Felipe Rojas Parra argues that as the damaging effects of the climate crisis increase, climate change resilience in infrastructure creates an invaluable opportunity for the health sector.
In his blog entitled Climate resilience in infrastructure – a hidden gem lies within the health sector,Felipe Rojas Parraprovides an overview on the damaging effect of climate change on critical infrastructure like transportation, energy, water and telecommunications. He observes that climate change has created spill-over effects on the health sector that act as push factors for incorporating significant adaptation strategies to build resilience, adding that “adaptation and resilience are not an option but a necessity”. Despite some significant signs of adaptation and resilience within the health sector, for example in actions taken towards the improvement of service delivery including monitoring and assessment of sanitation services and acquisition of flood insurance, Rojas Parra argues that “preparing health systems to become climate change resilient will require significant investment in the short and medium term. (…) This can mean refurbishment of existing infrastructure, but also creation of new regulation standards for infrastructure development in the future”.
Notwithstanding all the challenges ahead, Parra notes that “a double opportunity exists for health sectors in England and the rest of the world. They can be the first line of defence against climate change and future health emergencies, while helping national governments reach their net-zero targets”. Inevitably, this will nevertheless require rethinking of how “governments and decision makers approach health systems”.
Read full blog here