REDUCING CLIMATE BASED HEALTH RISKS IN BLUE ENVIRONMENTS: ADAPTING TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON COASTAL PATHOGENS.

Blue Adapt brings together an interdisciplinary team of biologists, climate scientists, economists, epidemiologists, and public health experts to investigate and quantify the future health risks associated with selected coastal pathogens. Blue Adapt will provide tools to assess the impacts of policy responses and communicate the results to a wide audience, including both policymakers and the public. A conceptual framework will be developed around existing models of One Health and Ecological Public Health, to help wider engagement with the complex nature of the issue. Horizons scanning and downscaled climate modelling will feed into lab-based experiments and the development of simulations around how changes in climate variables, interacting with other environmental change, may influence the state of selected microbial pathogens of public health concern in coastal waters. Case studies will illustrate how One Health and Ecological Public Health concepts can be used to generate action and identify potential barriers to adaptation. Health impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis will inform appropriate action. Blue Adapt Innovation Slams and policy workshops will help deliver wider impact from the project including new-to-firm and new-to-market products and services.