Climate change and its impact on population health in Southern China: Implications for adaptation policy

Key Messages

• The research on climate change and health conducted in Guangdong province indicates that extreme climate events, such as heat waves and cold spells, increases the risk of mortality and infectious diseases.

• Vulnerability to heat waves is higher in economically undeveloped regions; there is a large room to improve public awareness on the health risk and appropriate responses in dealing with heat waves.

• Meteorological and health departments should cooperate to build up and improve the monitoring systems on climate change and public health throughout Guangdong province.

• Establishing a multi-sectoral cooperation mechanism to develop and implement temperature early warning systems will substantially help to minimise adverse health impacts of climate change.

• Risk communication strategies, education and awareness projects and adaptation policies should be developed at a provincial authority level to improve risk perception and further reduce the adverse health impacts of climate change. 

This briefing is based on ongoing research conducted by Guangdong Center for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the Adapting to Climate Change in China project.