Public Perception and Awareness of Health Risks of Climate Change: A Potential for Adaptation and Mitigation in Kenya
##article.abstract##
There is widespread scientific consensus that the world‟s climate is changing. This change has been found to have adverse consequences on human health as well as exacerbates health risks. Mounting evidence suggests current and future effects on human health, including injuries and illnesses from severe weather events, floods, and heat exposure; increases in allergic, respiratory, vector-borne, and waterborne diseases; and threats to food and water supplies. Indirect effects may include anxiety and depression. The discourse of climate change must thus be framed from public health perspective with a focus on reducing its impacts. Health consequences of climate change can be a useful lever for enhancing individuals‟ engagement in adaptation and mitigating strategies to climate change. This paper discusses the potentials posed by perception and awareness of health risks of climate change as a step to individual adaption and behaviour change in Kenya. Kenya, like other nations in the world, is faced with the serious threats of climate change to livelihood and human health. Being a developing country, Kenya is more vulnerable to such impacts. However, potentials lie on adaption and mitigation measures of which behaviour change is a critical factor. Research has shown that public risk perceptions strongly influence the way people respond to hazards. When a community or individual perceives a problem to be a very serious threat, then it is likely to initiate appropriate intervention measures, hence the potential of public perception/awareness of health risks of climate change for adaptation and mitigation strategies in Kenya
References
Bord, R., O‘Connor, R. E., & Fisher, A. (2000). In what sense does the public need to understand global climate change? Public Understand of Science, 9, 205-218.
Bulkeley, H. (2009). Common knowledge? Public understanding of climate change in Newcastle, Australia. Public Understand Science, 9, 313-333.
Cardwell, F. S., & Elliot, S. J. (2013). Making the link: Do we connect climate change with health? Aqualitative case study from Canada. BMC Public Health,, 13(208).
DeBono, R., Vincenti, K., & Calleja, N. (2012). Risk communication: climate change as a human-health threat, a survey of public
perceptions in Malta. Eur J Public Health, 22(1), 144-149. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq181
Ebi, K. L., & Semenza, J. C. (2008). Community-based adaptation to the health impacts of climate change. Am J Prev Med, 35, 501-507.
Epstein, P. R. (2005). Climate change and human health. New England Journal of Medicine, 353, 1433-1436.
Frumkin, H., Hess, J., Luber, G., Malilay, J., & McGeehin, M. (2008). Climate Change: The Public Health Response. American Journal of Public Health, 98(3), 435-445.
Government of Kenya (GoK). (2010). National Climate Change Response Strategy 2010: Nairobi, Kenya: Government Printers.
Haines, A. K. R., Campbell-Lendrum, D., & Corvalan, C. (2006). Climate change and human health: impacts, vulnerability, and mitigation. Lancet, 367, 2101-2109.
Hale, J., & Dillard, J., (Eds.):. (1995). Fear appeals in health promotion campaigns: Too much, too little, or just right? Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
IPCC. (2007). Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Fourth Assessment Report, Synthesis Report (pp. 26-73).
Leiserowitz, A. (2006). Climate change risk perceptions and policy preferences: the role of affect, imagery and values. Climatic Change, 77, 45-72.
McCarthy, J., Leary, N., Dokken, D., & White, K., (Ed.). (2001). Climate change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.
Cambridge Cambridge University Press.
Nzeadibe, T. C., Egbule, C. L., Chukwuone, N. A., & Agu, V. C. (2011). Climate change awareness and adptation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Working Paper Series 57: African Technology Policy Studies Network.
Omoruyi, E. P., & Kunle, O. A. (2012). Effects of Climate Change on Health Risks in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 1(1), 204-215.
Otieno, S., Pauker, E., & Mania, P. (2009). Report of Kenya talks climate. The public understanding of climate change. London UK:
BBB World Service Trust.
Republic of Kenya. (2013). National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017. Nairobi, Kenya: Government Printers
Samet, J. M. (2009). Adapting to Climate Change: Public Health Adaptation/An initiative of the climate policy programm at RFF:
RFF.
Semenza, J. C., Ploubidis, G. B., & George, L. A. (2011). Climate Change and Climate Variability: Personal Motivation for Adaptation and Mitigation. Environmental Health, 10(46).
Semenza, J. C., Rubin, H. C., Falter, K. H., Selanikio, J. D., Flanders, D. W., & J.L., W. (1996). Risk factors for heat-related mortality during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago. New England Journal of Medicine, 335, 84-90.
Shisanya, C. A., & Khayesi, M. (2007). How is climate change perceived in relation to other socioeconomic and environmental threats in Nairobi, Kenya? Climatic Change, 85, 271-284.
Slovic, P. (2000). The perception of risk. London: Sterling, VA: Earthscan Publications.
Stern, P. (2000). Towards a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. . Journal of Sociological Issues, 56, 407-424.
Weber, E. U. (2006). Experience-based and description-based perceptions of long-term risk: why global warming does not scare us (yet). Climate Change, 77(1 and 2), 103-120.
World Health Organization. (1948). Constitution of the World Health Organization. . Geneva: World Health Organization
World Health Organization. (1990). Tropical Diseases: TDR-CTD/HH90.1 World Health Organization.
World Health Report. (2002). Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva: World Health Organization.
