PROJECT INFORMATION
Transdisciplinary project to develop a comprehensive, early-response approach to heat waves
Principal investigator (PI):
Ana Laura Torlaschi, Equipo de Salud Ambiental de la Dirección General de Salud Comunitaria del Ministerio de Salud del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
E-mail: atorlaschi@buenosaires.gob.ar
Phone: +54 9 116 4 5566 46
Duration and funding:
(September 2023–2024) USD 15,000
Co-funding:
USD 26,500
Participating country:
Argentina
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Heat waves and various climate change-related phenomena affect the health of the entire population, with the most vulnerable groups being at greatest risk. The city has an aging population, with more than 700,000 people over the age of 60. This age group exhibits socioeconomic heterogeneity and unequal vulnerability across different sectors of the city, with consequent differential health effects (1–3). In many countries, early warning systems and regional climate risk reduction and adaptation plans have helped improve the population’s quality of life and address specific threats (4–8). Through our research, we aim to identify, in a transdisciplinary manner, the governmental and nongovernmental actors involved in responding to heat waves, along with the needs and vulnerabilities of the elderly, given their diverse aging patterns within the city. This knowledge will allow us, using existing tools and structures within the system, to design a comprehensive and timely response plan against heat waves that can take into account the heterogeneity of this sector of the population.
