As the impact of climate change intensifies, particularly in hotter regions, a recent study published in the Lancet Planetary Health, sheds light on the potentially fundamental role of sociocultural adaptations in mitigating heat-associated mortality.
The research team, which included Associate Professor Veronica Matthews of the UCRH, analysed over three decades of mortality data from the Northern Territory, spanning from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 2019. The study encompassed 31,800 deaths, including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, to assess the impact of extreme heat on mortality rates.
The study found that, despite marked socioeconomic inequity, Aboriginal people are not more susceptible to heat mortality than non-Indigenous people. It is widely believed that technological and infrastructural adaptations are the cornerstone when preparing for hotter climates; however, this study suggests that social and cultural adaptations to increasing hot weather could be potentially powerful mechanisms for protecting human health.
