Chapter 50 - Modeling the health impacts of climate change on people with disabilities: A complex adaptive systems perspective

Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS

Globally, 1.3 billion people experience disabilities, yet their needs are often overlooked in disaster response and recovery efforts. The health effects of climate change on disabled populations are categorized into several key areas: mental and physical health, economic and social disadvantages, disruption of critical infrastructure, and social marginalization. Complex adaptive systems perspectives can be used to assess climate change's health impacts on people with disabilities, examining how interconnected systems including healthcare, infrastructure, and social services affect their resilience and vulnerability. By analyzing the interconnections between these systems, stakeholders can develop more inclusive strategies that improve disaster preparedness and resilience for people with disabilities. Such models inform better policymaking and enhance collaboration among various sectors, leading to more equitable disaster response and recovery protocols and ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in global efforts to mitigate the health impacts of climate change.