[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/new-evidence-briefing-describing-role-l... ]
Dear Caroline,
Thank you for your message about your latest evidence briefing on the role of libraries in supporting the climate change agenda. As you mention in the introduction, HIFA collaborated with your group, the IFLA Special Interest Group on Evidence for Global and Disaster Health on a previous briefing:
De Brún C, Pakenham-Walsh N. The HIFA LIS project: Exploring the role of libraries in times of crisis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2018;23(Supplement 1):A22-A3.https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2018-111024.45
De Brún C. What is the evidence around knowledge and library service provision and knowledge management to support global health, and disaster and emergency preparedness? 2017. http://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/publications_pdf/Evidence_briefi...
The current briefing cites a definition of climate literacy: “A climate literate person understands the essential principles of Earth’s climate system, knows how to assess scientifically credible climate information, communicates about climate change in a meaningful way, and can make informed and responsible decisions regarding actions that may affect climate”. I would like to propose we add/emphasise health in this definition, so that the climate literate person understands all the above, but also understands the current and potential health impact of climate change - now, in the coming years, and for future generations. Such understanding is vital to promote population advocacy and action. Libraries have an important role to play.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org