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September 02-03, 2019 | Berlin, Germany
6
th
World Conference on Climate Change
Volume 10
Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
ISSN: 2157-7617
Climate Change 2019
September 02-03, 2019
The unattended role of wellbeing and equity in sustainability and climate change policies in Europe
Sonia Quiroga
1
and
Pablo Martinez-Juarez
2
1
Universidad de Alcalá, Spain
2
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
P
ublic effort on climate change policies has been growing in the last years in Europe, and with it, the attention
put over its effectiveness, efficiency and impact over equity. One of the sources of problems is the excessive
rigidness of top-down approaches. The development of a wide and diverse range of measures would ease the task of
broadening the view and letting stakeholders to find solutions that fit best. Innovation is the key of this approach,
but creativity in problem solving is discouraged. Identification of societal needs is also basic, as needs and resources
will fluctuate throughout time. While biodiversity, ecosystem conservation or provisioning ecosystem services are
highly regarded, some other indirect effects provided to society (e.g. cultural value) are often forgotten and this
would explain the excess of attention that has been paid to policies such as grey infrastructures. While their positive
impact as adaptive measures is undeniable, their cost efficiency may not be as clear as it should. Soft adaptation
measures such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation has been showing encouraging results, even taking just into account
their ability to fulfil their direct role. While clear and varied objectives are important, unexpected benefits arising
from different measures, or co-benefits, must also be considered. Co-benefits from ecosystem improvement and
conservation may affect wellbeing and health. Green environments have been associated not only with stress
reduction, but also with lower prevalence rates in different illnesses and health problems. It has also been suggested
that green neighborhoods reduce health inequalities, providing better health to both high and low income areas,
but improving health conditions more strongly in economically deprived areas. This subject will be of growing
importance as climate change affects the income structure and there is still much to be analyzed on the potential
reduction of socioeconomic inequalities through environmental policies.
J Earth Sci Clim Change 2019, Volume: 10