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Review
. 2023 Nov 15:40:100970.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100970. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Enhancing health resilience in Japan in a changing climate

Yoonhee Kim  1 , Kazutaka Oka  2 , Erin C Kawazu  3 , Chris Fook Sheng Ng  4 , Xerxes Seposo  5 , Kayo Ueda  5 , Masahiro Hashizume  4   6 , Yasushi Honda  2
Affiliations
Review

Enhancing health resilience in Japan in a changing climate

Yoonhee Kim et al. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. .

Abstract

Climate change poses significant threats to human health, propelling Japan to take decisive action through the Climate Change Adaptation Act of 2018. This Act has led to the implementation of climate change adaptation policies across various sectors, including healthcare. In this review, we synthesized existing scientific evidence on the impacts of climate change on health in Japan and outlined the adaptation strategies and measures implemented by the central and local governments. The country has prioritized tackling heat-related illness and mortality and undertaken various adaptation measures to mitigate these risks. However, it faces unique challenges due to its super-aged society. Ensuring effective and coordinated strategies to address the growing uncertainties in vulnerability to climate change and the complex intersectoral impacts of disasters remains a critical issue. To combat the additional health risks by climate change, a comprehensive approach embracing adaptation and mitigation policies in the health sector is crucial. Encouraging intersectoral communication and collaboration will be vital for developing coherent and effective strategies to safeguard public health in the face of climate change.

Keywords: Adaptation measures; Climate change; Health impacts; Heat; Japan.

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Conflict of interest statement

KO received the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency. YK was supported by the University of Tokyo Excellent Young Researcher award.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean seasonal temperature by Japanese prefecture (1991–2020). The seasons were defined as follows: winter as December through February, spring as March through May, summer as June through August, and autumn as September through November.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of people transported by ambulance due to heatstroke, 2008–2022 (left axis) and the number of days exceeding a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of 33 °C, which is the threshold triggering the Heat Stroke Alert in Japan (right axis). No ambulance transport data were available for June in 2008 and 2009, as well as for May in 2010–2014 and 2020, and no WBGT data were available for 2008 and 2009.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Projected fold change in risk of (A) ambulance transport due to heatstroke and (B) heat-related mortality in the mid-century (2031–2050) and at the end of the 21st century (2081–2100), compared to the reference period (1981–2000), under low-emission (RCP2.6) and high-emission (RCP8.5) scenarios based on the MIROC dataset. RCP: Representative Concentration Pathway; MIROC: Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Number of heatstroke alerts issued by prefecture in the warm months of 2022 in Japan.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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