Taxonomy for citizen actions on public health and climate change: a proposal

Álvarez-Miño, Lidice; Montoya, Robinson Taboada

doi:10.11606/s1518-8787.2021055003823

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Comment • Rev. Saúde Pública 55 • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2021055003823 copy

Taxonomy for citizen actions on public health and climate change: a proposal

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Facing complex issues such as climate change and its effects on public health require the participation of various actors. The research tool citizen science is one way for people to get involved. Through it, citizens collaborate with scientists to find solutions to problems in their territories. From a participatory work with citizens, we designed a taxonomy proposal, which can facilitate citizen and community action in suggesting research ideas. We expect stakeholders to use it to systematically classify and code initial questions and answers on public health and climate change issues. The development of this taxonomy integrates the global agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in such a way that citizens not only help their communities but also, the direct fulfillment of SDGs such as Climate Action (SDG 13), indirectly impacting other SDGs — given their interdependent nature (SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 12). The systematic classification and coding of citizens’ contributions worldwide will contribute to the large-scale organized collection of information to be analyzed in proposing better responses to reduce the impacts of climate change on health.

Classification; Public Health; Climate Change; Citizen Science

A. PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
A.1.1. Governance in health and adaptation to climate change.
A.1.1.1.1. Policies/Decisions on health options – Water protection.
Questions:	Actions:
• How can we handle wastewater without risks? • How can we achieve permanent drinking water in the territory?	• Plans for oxidation ponds. • Subpoenas/fines for discarding tires in water sources. • Waste collection to raise awareness for the care of oceans and rivers. • Legislation and actions to protect moorlands, headwaters and water deposits via the collective protection of ecosystems.
A.1.1.1.2. Policies/Decisions on health options – Reduction of the impact of floods.
Questions:	Actions:
• How can we create the infrastructure and education to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water during rainy seasons? • Which citizen actions would push decision-makers to reduce the probability of floods given the current climate variability?	• Sewers for draining wastewater. • Green urbanism. • Economic incentives for populations that reduce and safely handle waste in floodplains (for example, via taxes, or reducing utility fees). • Decent plans for population relocation.
A.1.1.1.3. Policies/Decisions on health options – Heatwave alerts.
Questions:	Actions
• How can we design a health surveillance plan to face heatwaves? • Are heatwave early warning systems prioritized in policies to protect the health and life of the population?	• Planting trees that will increase the local topsoil. • Including construction standards with green roofs/walls in legislation.
A.1.1.1.4. Policies/Decisions on health options – Drought management.
Questions:	Actions:
• What infrastructure and actions allow for a safe and efficient collection of rainwater in the territories? • Which local policies help save water? • Which productive processes can be modified to reduce water use?	• Planning the distribution of drinking water during crises.
A.1.2. Governance in health and mitigation of climate change.
A.1.2.1.1. Policies/Decisions on health options – GHG reduction in transportation
Questions:	Actions:
• Does the government plan to transform the transportation system in my city?	• Gasoline vehicle tax policies. • Making the best decision: changing the way you get around the city.
A.1.2.1.2. Policies/Decisions on health options – GHG reduction in other daily activities
Questions:	Actions:
• How is a responsible consumption policy designed and executed for the territory? • How can we design a plan to access local food and thus reduce the carbon footprint in the neighborhood?	• Reward policies for homes that consume less energy in the city. • Home challenge: reduce the consumption carbon footprint.

A. PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
A.1.1. Governance in health and adaptation to climate change.
A.1.1.1.1. Policies/Decisions on health options – Water protection.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we handle wastewater without risks? How can we achieve permanent drinking water in the territory?	Plans for oxidation ponds. Subpoenas/fines for discarding tires in water sources. Waste collection to raise awareness for the care of oceans and rivers. Legislation and actions to protect moorlands, headwaters and water deposits via the collective protection of ecosystems.
A.1.1.1.2. Policies/Decisions on health options – Reduction of the impact of floods.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we create the infrastructure and education to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water during rainy seasons? Which citizen actions would push decision-makers to reduce the probability of floods given the current climate variability?	Sewers for draining wastewater. Green urbanism. Economic incentives for populations that reduce and safely handle waste in floodplains (for example, via taxes, or reducing utility fees). Decent plans for population relocation.
A.1.1.1.3. Policies/Decisions on health options – Heatwave alerts.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we design a health surveillance plan to face heatwaves?	Planting trees that will increase the local topsoil. Including construction standards with green roofs/walls in legislation.
A.1.1.1.4. Policies/Decisions on health options – Drought management.
Questions:	Actions:
What infrastructure and actions can collect rainwater safely and efficiently in the territories? Which local policies help save water? Which productive processes can be modified to reduce water use?	Planning the distribution of drinking water during crises.
A.1.1.2.1. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – Water protection.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we reduce individual and industrial water footprints? Which open information systems will inform us of the quality, quantity and access conditions to drinking water in the territory?	Strengthen local capacities to guarantee drinking water. Implement domestic technologies to reduce drinking water consumption. Domestic and industrial water-recycling systems.
A.1.1.2.2. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – Reduction of the impact of floods.
Questions:	Actions:
Which rainwater collection systems reduces the risk of floods? What does an early flood alert system look like?	Locally organized collection and recycling of used tires. Design and implementation of collection and waste handling systems inside and outside households. Construction of adequate housing in non-floodable zones and/or with urban sanitation systems and sustainable drainage.
A.1.1.2.3. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – Heatwave alerts.
Questions:	Actions:
How can territories or their citizens generate an early heatwave alert system?	Citizen monitoring of local temperatures.
A.1.1.2.4. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – Drought management.
Questions:	Actions:
Which open information systems informs us of the quality, quantity and conditions of drinking water in the territory? What does an alternative citizen plan to face drought risk look like?	Domestic and industrial water recycling systems. Local identification of alternative drinking water sources.
A.1.2. Governance in health and mitigation of climate change.
A.1.2.1.1. Policies/Decisions on health options – GHG reduction in transportation.
Questions:	Actions:
Which strategies have reduced GHG from transportation in different parts of the world? Which advocacy tools impact public policy decisions to implement clean public transportation systems?	Urban planning with bicycle lanes and/or exclusive disposal of streets for bicycle riders and pedestrians. Raising taxes on vehicles that use fossil fuels. Legislation in the interest of life.
A.1.2.1.2. Policies/Decisions on health options – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
Questions:	Actions:
Which daily practices increase/reduce carbon footprint?	Generate alternatives for the consumption of goods and services with a guaranteed low carbon footprint. Legislation in the interest of life.
Continue
Box 2. Examples of stakeholders’ questions and actions using the taxonomy coding system. Continuation.
A.1.2.2.1. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – GHG reduction in transportation.
Questions:	Actions:
Which massive transportation systems reduce GHG in the territory?	Increase walking and the use of public transportation and bicycles.
A.1.2.2.2. Sustainable systems in the interest of life – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
Questions:	Actions:
Which goods/services are produced with low GHG?	Recycling PET plastic bottles and organic waste. Consumption of home-grown food: a healthy, sustainable, and delicious diet. Generate recycling systems, compost and a viable domestic diet.
A.2.1. Healthy environments and adaptation to climate change.
A.2.1.1.1. Healthy family/home – Water protection.
A.2.1.1.2. Healthy family/home – Reduction of the impact of floods.
A.2.1.1.3. Healthy family/home – Heatwave alerts.
A.2.1.1.4. Healthy family/home – Drought management.
A.2.1.2.1. Healthy street, block, neighborhood – Water protection.
A.2.1.2.2. Healthy street, block, neighborhood – Reduction of the impact of floods.
Question:	Actions:
How can we prevent the formation of mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water during rainy seasons?	Efficient sewage system. Reusing PET bottles. Avoiding the accumulation of animal feces that could be dispersed by rain. Informative campaigns in small neighborhood stores so people know the importance of recycling.
A.2.1.2.3. Healthy street, block, neighborhood – Heatwave alerts.
A.2.1.2.4. Healthy street, block, neighborhood – Drought management.
A.2.1.3.1. Healthy institutions – Water protection.
A.2.1.3.2. Healthy institutions – Reduction of the impact of floods.
A.2.1.3.3. Healthy institutions – Heatwave alerts.
A.2.1.3.4. Healthy institutions – Drought management.
A.2.1.4.1. Healthy city - Water protection
A.2.1.4.2. Healthy city - Reduction of the impact of floods.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we prevent the formation of mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water during rainy seasons?	Efficient sewage system. Keeping streets clean from waste and debris. Garbage containers for waste collection.
A.2.1.4.3. Healthy city - Heatwave alerts.
A.2.1.4.4. Healthy city - Drought management.
A.2.2. Healthy environments and mitigation of climate change.
A.2.2.1.1. Healthy family - GHG reduction in transportation.
A.2.2.1.2. Healthy family - GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.2.2.2.1. Healthy street, block, neighborhood - GHG reduction in transportation.
A.2.2.2.2. Healthy street, block, neighborhood - GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.2.2.3.1. Healthy institution - GHG reduction in transportation.
A.2.2.3.2. Healthy institution – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.2.2.4.1. Healthy city – GHG reduction in transportation.
A.2.2.4.2. Healthy city – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.3.1. Health knowledge and adaptation to climate change.
A.3.1.1.1. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – Water protection.
A.3.1.1.2. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – Reduction of the impact of floods.
A.3.1.1.3. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – Heatwave alerts.
A.3.1.1.4. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – Drought management.
A.3.1.2.1. Transformation of practices via education – Water protection.
A.3.1.2.2. Transformation of practices via education – Reduction of the impact of floods.
A.3.1.2.3. Transformation of practices via education – Heatwave alerts.
A.3.1.2.4. Transformation of practices via education – Drought management.
A.3.1.3.1. Communal and participative investigation – Water protection.
A.3.1.3.2. Communal and participative investigation – Reduction of the impact of floods.
A.3.1.3.3. Communal and participative investigation – Heatwave alerts.
A.3.1.3.4. Communal and participative investigation – Drought management.
A.3.2. Health knowledge and mitigation of climate change.
A.3.2.1. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life.
A.3.2.1.1. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – GHG reduction in transportation.
A.3.2.1.2. Informing and training communities to act and protect health and life – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.3.2.2.1. Transformation of practices via education – GHG reduction in transportation.
A.3.2.2.2. Transformation of practices via education – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
A.3.2.3.1. Communal and participative investigation – GHG reduction in transportation.
A.3.2.3.2. Communal and participative investigation – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
B. PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
B.1.1. Primary prevention of disease and adaptation to climate change.
B.1.1.1.1. Preventing diseases of different age groups – Water protection.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we improve access to basic sanitation systems? Which human activities pollute rivers more and how does it affect the health of nearby inhabitants?	Teaching people how to treat water for consumption.
B.1.1.1.2. Preventing diseases of different age groups – Reduction of the impact of floods.
Questions:	Actions:
How can we prevent the formation of mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water during rainy seasons?	Periodic cleaning of homes to avoid breeding grounds. Efficient sewage system. Infographics and videos for education on floods.
B.1.1.1.3. Preventing diseases of different age groups – Heatwave alerts.
Questions:	Actions:
Can high temperatures affect mental health?	Plant native trees to adapt to heat waves.
B.1.1.1.4. Preventing diseases of different age groups – Drought management.
B.1.1.2.1. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – Water protection.
B.1.1.2.2. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – Reduction of the impact of floods.
B.1.1.2.3. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – Heatwave alerts.
B.1.1.2.4. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – Drought management.
B.1.2. Primary prevention of disease and mitigation of climate change.
B.1.2.1.1. Preventing diseases of different age groups – GHG reduction in transportation.
B.1.2.1.2. Preventing diseases of different age groups – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
B.1.2.2.1. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – GHG reduction in transportation.
Questions:	Actions:
How can I encourage my neighbors to use their cars less and walk or ride bicycles more often?	Walk, use public transportation, and ride bicycles more often.
B.1.2.2.2. Preventing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases – GHG reduction in other daily activities.
Questions:	Actions:
What other initiatives, apart from those related to transportation, can improve our health as climate change is mitigated?	Reduce the consumption of foods with saturated fats, refined sugars and salt. Increase consumption of homegrown vegetables.

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[1] Correspondence: Lidice Alvarez Miño Carrera 32 # 22-08 Santa Marta Colombia E-mail: lalvarezm@unimagdalena.edu.co