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CLINF: Climate-Change Effects on the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, and the Associated Impacts on Northern Societies

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Nordic Perspectives on the Responsible Development of the Arctic: Pathways to Action

Part of the book series: Springer Polar Sciences ((SPPS))

Abstract

The research initiative CLINF addresses a central issue in planning for the responsible development of the North: an understanding of the impact of climate change on the geographic distribution and epidemiology of climate sensitive infectious diseases (CSIs), and their associated consequences for Arctic health, economic growth, and societal prosperity. Changes in infectious diseases transmission patterns are a likely consequence of changing climates, a neglected problem that is likely to have a profound effect on northern societies, including indigenous cultures. There is an urgent need to learn more about the complex underlying dynamic relationships, and apply this information to the prediction of future CSI impacts, using more complete, better validated, and integrated data and models. This chapter provides an overview of the thoughts behind the CLINF NCoE (Nordic Centre of Excellence), and the integrative context expressed therein. The most recent findings regarding climate change in the Arctic, as published by IPCC and other global networks, are presented. In the international CLINF consortium of researchers, nine human and 18 animal husbandry diseases have been selected for study due to their potential for being climate sensitive. The human infections were selected by an international consortium of researchers, to represent fundamentally different transmission processes. The main CLINF objectives are the construction of practical tools for the decision-makers who are responsible for the development of northern societies. By contributing to the development of an early warning system for increased risks for CSIs to spread at the local level effective policy responses may be formulated. The overall aim of CLINF is to support the sustainability of Arctic development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Birgitta Evengård

  2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden

    Tomas Thierfelder

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  1. Birgitta Evengård
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  2. Tomas Thierfelder
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Correspondence to Birgitta Evengård .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden

    Douglas C. Nord

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Evengård, B., Thierfelder, T. (2021). CLINF: Climate-Change Effects on the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, and the Associated Impacts on Northern Societies. In: Nord, D.C. (eds) Nordic Perspectives on the Responsible Development of the Arctic: Pathways to Action. Springer Polar Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52324-4_3

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