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NIHR PHRP project on local authority-level research priorities on climate change and health

Overview of Findings from a Survey of Directors of Public Health (DsPH)

BACKGROUND

Our project[1] is one of three funded by the NIHR Public Health Research Programme (PHRP) to help with the identification of key research priorities that are relevant for action by local authorities to address climate change and its health impacts.  The other two projects are led by Lancaster University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

OUR PROJECT AND THE SURVEY OF DsPH

We are taking a staged approach to identify evidence gaps and research priorities. 

We generated an initial list through a rapid review of UK climate change-related policy documents (local and national), and grouped the gaps into two broad areas: (A) community engagement in local action on the health impacts of climate change and (B) the economic (cost) implications of actions to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change.

We then sought feedback on this initial list via a survey of DsPH[2].  The survey was shared with DsPH on August 5 and closed on August 26, 2022.  Of the 151 DsPH invited to take part, responses were received from 57 (response rate: 38%).  The participating local authorities are representative of England local authorities as a whole with respect to index of multiple deprivation (IMD) and whether or not the local authority had a climate action plan.  Urban areas were over-represented in our sample, but after studying the differences in responses between urban and rural areas, we do not believe that this has biased our findings.  We have shared the findings below with the Climate and Health Committee of the Faculty of Public Health.

With the survey completed, we are now moving onto the final stage of the project: to focus on the priority gaps identified by DsPH via the survey and assess those for which UK-relevant evidence for local action is limited. To do this, we are undertaking a series of rapid evidence reviews.

SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE GAPS IDENTIFIED BY DsPH VIA THE AUGUST SURVEY OF DsPH

Below, we summarise the top three gaps most frequently identified by DsPH with respect to (A) community engagement and (B) economic (cost) implications.  The proportion selecting the gaps is indicated (% of participants)[3].  

A. Community engagement

Top three areas ‘where, in your view, more information is needed by your local authority on ways to engage with the public in local level actions to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change’.

1. The public acceptability of local actions (e.g. low traffic neighbourhoods) (85%)
2. Public understandings of climate change and its impacts on people’s health (74%)
3. Best practice in engaging with local businesses(48%)

Groups or communities ‘where, in your view, more evidence is needed by your local authority on effective ways to engage the public in local level actions to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change’.

1. Different income groups (e.g. richer and poorer households)(66%)
2. Communities facing barriers to decent housing and local services(45%) 
3. Communities from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds(41%)

B. Economic (cost) implications of local authority actions 

Top three areas ‘where, in your view, more evidence is needed by your local authority to understand the economic (cost) implications of actions to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change’.

1. Evidence on the health and non-health-related costs and benefits of investing in climate change mitigation and adaptation activities (76%)
2. Information on the short, medium, and long-term budgetary implications of climate change mitigation and adaptation activities(69%)
3. Best practice evidence on policies to financially incentivise local businesses to adopt climate change mitigation and adaptation activities(48%)

Sectors ‘where, in your view, more evidence is needed by your local authority to understand the economic (cost) implications of actions to mitigate or adapt to the health impacts of climate change’.

1. Built environment, building design, healthy homes schemes(60%)
2. Healthier diets and sustainability of food supply(48%)
3. Active travel infrastructure and active lifestyles(38%)

Groups or communities ‘where, in your view, more evidence is needed by your local authority on the differential economic impacts of local level actions to mitigate or adapt to the health impacts of climate change’.

1. Different income groups (e.g. richer and poorer households)(66%)
2. Communities facing barriers to decent housing and local services (50%)
3. All communities (45%)

[1] For further details of the project, including the project team, see https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/public-health/projects/research-priorities-on-climate-change/

[2] In addition, an invitation to participate was included in the ADPH newsletter.

[3] The survey also included an open-ended question where respondents could note ‘other key evidence gaps and research priorities’