Stakeholder viewpoints on New York State Department of Health climate change and health adaptation planning: Networking and priority setting

OBJECTIVE: The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) surveyed stakeholders regarding partnership potential and prioritization of climate change and health adaptation activities to inform planning. METHODS: Forty-one stakeholders representing academic, business, community, environmental, government, health, and policy organizations were contacted to prioritize 77 adaptation activities from the state's climate action plan and peer-reviewed literature. Interviews were conducted to obtain data on climate-health impacts, adaptation barriers, and partnership. Quantitative and qualitative results were analyzed; qualitative results were validated by independent analysis. RESULTS: Stakeholders most frequently cited heat-related illness/mortality as a current climate-health issue. Direct climate-related health impacts were cited more frequently than indirect impacts. Most stakeholders (90%) agreed climate change should be an important focus of NYSDOH. The “Monitoring and Surveillance” adaptation category was prioritized highest, followed by policy planning, education, and capacity building. Over half (68%) had considered incorporating climate change and health into organizational planning; fewer (41%) agreed they had access to sufficient information on climate-health impacts. Barriers to incorporating health into climate adaptation included institutional inertia and lack of resources, health impact definition, and public trust. DISCUSSION: Further defining the scope of health impacts and quantifying health costs across the spectrum of impacts may elevate climate change as a public health priority. Improved impact quantification through expanded monitoring and surveillance can guide educational initiatives and direct policy. Survey results, combined with surveys of NYSDOH and local health leadership, have informed state health department adaptation planning. Stakeholder partnerships forged during the survey process will aid adaptation implementation.