Climate Information for Public Health Action

Madeleine C. Thomson is a Senior Research Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Earth Institute, and a Senior Scholar at the Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, at Columbia University, USA.Simon J. Mason is Chief Climate Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Earth Institute, at Columbia University, USA.

'Hotter, drier times, more severe (CAT-5) hurricanes and inundations are among the unfolding climate-induced changes for Caribbean SIDS. This book sets out the global context; a treasure trove of sound science, joined-up analyses and recommendations; a must-read for any thoughtful health professional concerned about the health of people and the planet.' -- C. James Hospedales, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Trinidad and Tobago'This book is a great resource for anyone interested in the rising risks to human health in a changing climate – it provides an in-depth look at what information can help us to understand past, present and future risks, for better decisions and better outcomes.' — Maarten van Aalst, Director, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, The Netherlands'At last, an informative reference book for practitioners in the growing discipline of climate and health! Drawing from a wealth of experience, Madeleine Thomson, Simon Mason and colleagues provide a useful background and guide for policy, as well as climate and health practitioners, to understand and mitigate climate impacts on the health of the most vulnerable populations.' — Judy Omumbo, Programme Manager, Affiliates and Post-Doctoral Programmes, African Academy of Sciences, Kenya'This book delves deep into relationships between health and climate variables and the data necessary to adapt to a warming world. For those who work in nutrition, it is a must-read, as food systems and diets garnered from those systems are, and will be, impacted by climate change.' — Jessica Fanzo, Director of the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program, Co-Chair of the Global Nutrition Report, Johns Hopkins University, USA'Climate Information for Public Health Action provides health professionals with critical insights into the weather and climate variables that can affect major causes of ill-health. Using this knowledge will improve the validity and robustness of research, and inform implementation of effective policies and programs to prepare for and manage these risks in a changing climate.' — Kristie L. Ebi, Director, Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, USA

• ForewordBy Elena ManaenkovaChapter 1: Health Priorities in a Changing Climate Madeleine C. Thomson, Tamer Samah Rabie, Joy Shumake-Guillemot, John McDermott, Wilmot James and Chadia Wannous Chapter 2: Climate Impacts on Disasters, Infectious Diseases and NutritionMadeleine C. ThomsonContributors: Delia Grace, Ruth DeFries, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Hannah Nissan and Alessandra GianniniChapter 3: Connecting Climate Information with Health OutcomesMadeleine C. Thomson, C. Jessica E. Metcalf and Simon MasonContributors: Adrian M. Tompkins and Mary HaydenChapter 4: Climate Basics Simon J. MasonContributors: Madeleine C. ThomsonChapter 5: Climate Variability and Trends: DriversSimon J. MasonContributors: Ángel G. Muñoz, Bradfield Lyon and Madeleine C. ThomsonChapter 6: Climate Data: The Past and PresentSimon J. Mason, Pietro Ceccato and Chris D. HewittContributors: Theodore L. Allen, Tufa Dinku, Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Asher B. Siebert, Michelle Stanton, Madeleine C. ThomsonChapter 7: Weather Forecasts: Up to One Week in AdvanceSimon J. Mason and Madeleine C. ThomsonContributors: Heat Action Group, Kim Knowlton, Hannah Nissan, Ángel G. Muñoz, Carlos Perez Garcia-Pando and Jeffrey ShamanChapter 8: Climate Forecasts for Early Warning: Up to Six Months in AdvanceSimon J. MasonContributors: Madeleine C. Thomson and Ángel G. MuñozChapter 9: Climate information for adaptation: From Years to DecadesHannah Nissan, Madeleine C. Thomson, Simon J. Mason, Ángel G. MuñozContributors: Glynn Vale, John W. Hargrove, Arthur M. Greene and Bradfield Lyon.Chapter 10: Climate Information for Public Health Action: Challenges and OpportunitiesMadeleine C. Thomson and Simon J. MasonContributors: John del Corral, Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Gilma Mantilla and Cristina Li