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Near-Term Responses in a Changing Climate
Section 4
Improved access to clean energy sources and technologies, and shifts 
to active mobility (e.g., walking and cycling) and public transport can 
deliver socioeconomic, air quality and health benefits, especially 
for women and children (high confidence). {WGII SPM C.2.2, WGII 
SPM C.2.11, WGII Cross-Chapter Box HEALTH; WGIII SPM C.2.2, 
WGIII SPM C.4.2, WGIII SPM C.9.1, WGIII SPM C.10.4, WGIII SPM 
D.1.3, WGIII Figure SPM.6, WGIII Figure SPM.8; SRCCL SPM B.6.2, 
SRCCL SPM B.6.3, SRCCL B.4.6, SRCCL SPM C.2.4}
Effective adaptation options exist to help protect human health 
and well-being (high conﬁdence). Health Action Plans that include 
early warning and response systems are effective for extreme heat (high 
conﬁdence). Effective options for water-borne and food-borne diseases 
include improving access to potable water, reducing exposure of water and 
sanitation systems to ﬂooding and extreme weather events, and improved 
early warning systems (very high conﬁdence). For vector-borne diseases, 
effective adaptation options include surveillance, early warning 
systems, and vaccine development (very high conﬁdence). Effective 
adaptation options for reducing mental health risks under climate 
change include improving surveillance and access to mental health 
care, and monitoring of psychosocial impacts from extreme weather 
events (high conﬁdence). A key pathway to climate resilience in the 
health sector is universal access to healthcare (high conﬁdence). 
{WGII SPM C.2.11, WGII 7.4.6}
4.5.6 Society, Livelihoods, and Economies
Enhancing knowledge on risks and available adaptation options 
promotes societal responses, and behaviour and lifestyle changes 
supported by policies, infrastructure and technology can help 
reduce global GHG emissions (high conﬁdence).