A dual approach of Knowledge Translation and Mobilization of Climate Change Research into Public Health Action: A Scoping Review

Chanelle Mulopo^1,2*Nyamongo Onkoba³Samuel Abimbola⁴Ezgi Baltaci⁵Caradee Wright^6,7Bey-Marrie Schmidt^2,8

• ¹Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• ²University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
• ³The Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
• ⁴Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
• ⁵Universitat Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
• ⁶South African Medical Research council, Environment and Health Research Unit, Pretoria, South Africa
• ⁷University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
• ⁸South African Medical Research Council, Health Systems Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa

There are gaps in translating climate change research into public health action at the global level. Knowledge translation refers to the methods used to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Given the significant impacts of climate change on health, it is essential to integrate climate research into health decision-making processes. This integration ensures that evidence effectively informs policies and practices at all levels, leading to more timely, equitable, and impactful public health responses.This scoping review examines key approaches and identifies gaps in knowledge translation methods for integrating climate change research into public health decision-making.A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus using a pre-defined search string to identify climate change and health studies published between 1 st January 2003 to 1 st March 2024, with no geographic restrictions. Retrieved articles were screened and data extracted using Covidence software. Thematic analysis was performed in ATLAS.TI employing Braun and Clark's six step method. Knowledge translation approaches identified were categorized according to the Cochrane Knowledge Translation Framework. Findings Our findings highlight five primary knowledge translation approaches: (1) monitoring the coverage of climate change and health across media, scientific literature, and government responses; (2) engaging citizens of all ages in participatory activities to address local climate challenges and co-develop policy solutions; (3) integrating knowledge generation, synthesis, and dissemination for effective communication; (4) emphasizing advocacy and education to foster collaborations and gain support from decision-makers; and (5) leveraging health impact assessment tools to guide decision-making related to climate change and health. Nonetheless, we did not find any primary studies on climate change research and knowledge translation in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).There is a need for primary studies on the knowledge translation of climate change research, especially in relation to adaptation, into meaningful public health actions that can inform decision-making and contribute to building climate-resilient health systems in LMICs.