What is it An assessment of the risks climate change poses to human health in the United States An Interagency product of the US Global Change Research Program USGCRP Part of the ongoing National Climate Assessment NCA process ID: 644199
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Climate Change, Health, and Environmental JusticeSlide2
What is it?
An assessment of the risks
climate change poses to human health in the United States An Interagency product of the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)Part of the ongoing National Climate Assessment (NCA) processWho wrote it? A team of ~100 Federal employees, contractors, and grantees from eight U.S. Federal agencies: HHS (NIH, CDC, NIOSH, ASPR, FDA, SAMHSA), NOAA, EPA, USDA, NASA, USGS, DOD (USUHS), VA. Health2016.globalchange.gov“Climate change is a significant threat to the health of the American people.” The US Climate Health AssessmentSlide3
How Climate Change Can Impact HealthSlide4
VulnerabilityVulnerability is the tendency or predisposition
to be adversely affected by climate-related health effects, and encompasses three elements:
exposuresensitivity or susceptibility to harmthe capacity to adapt to or respond to a climate change threat. While all Americans are affected by climate change, some groups are disproportionately vulnerable to climate health impacts.Slide5
People of color, low-income communities, immigrants, and people
who are not fluent in English are disproportionately affected
by climate change and are less able than others to adapt to or recover from climate change impacts.Some factors that contribute to vulnerability and risk of disproportionate impacts include: living in areas vulnerable to climate change (i.e., coastal communities) coping with higher levels of existing health risks in comparison to other groups living in low-income communities with limited access to healthcare services having high rates of uninsured individuals with difficulty accessing quality healthcare having limited availability of information and resources in a person’s native language less ability to relocate or rebuild after a disaster Climate Change is an Environmental Justice Issue Slide6
Extreme HeatFactors that increase risk:
Live in a home with poor insulation or no air
conditioning Work outdoors Do not have access to emergency healthcare Do not have access to emergency public health warnings in native language Poor Air QualityFactors that increase risk: Live in an urban area, especially one that already has a lot of air pollution Work outdoors Have medical problems like hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or asthma Do not have access to public health information in native languageFactors that Increase Risk of Climate Change Impacts on HealthSlide7
Extreme EventsFactors that increase risk:
Have limited transportation options
Have limited access to health care services or medications needed for existing medical problemsHave no or limited health insurance or property insuranceDo not have access to emergency public health warnings in native language Contaminated Water IllnessesFactors that increase risk: Live in an area with treated drinking water systems that are old or below standards Live in an area with untreated water such as well water Live in a crowded shelter after evacuations for an extreme event Do not have access to emergency public health warnings in native language Factors that Increase Risk of Climate Change Impacts on HealthSlide8
Access to Safe and Nutritious Food Factors that increase risk:
Do not have access to information on safe handling of food
Live in an area with limited access to high quality food choices Have existing or chronic medical problems Do not have access to public health information in native language Mental Health and Well-BeingFactors that increase risk: Do not have access to mental health care, especially counseling, in native language Have an existing mental illness, especially if taking stress medication that increases sensitivity to heat Live in an area vulnerable to extreme weather events Have limited social support networks Factors that Increase Risk of Climate Change Impacts on HealthSlide9
Heart DiseaseHeart disease increases sensitivity to heat stress.
DiabetesDiabetes increases sensitivity to heat stress.
Extreme weather events may limit access to the medicine and food that diabetics need to stay healthy. AsthmaAsthma can be exacerbated by changes in pollen season and exposure to air pollution caused by or made worse by changes in temperature, humidity, wind, or wildfires. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Patients with COPD are more sensitive than the general population to changes in outdoor air quality made worse by climate change. Effects of Climate Change on Existing Health ConditionsSlide10
Factsheet: Climate Change, Health, and Environmental Justice
For More Information
www.epa.gov/climate-impacts/communicating-vulnerabilities-climate-change-environmental-justiceSlide11
EPA Resources:
www.epa.gov/climate-impacts
USGCRP Climate and Health Assessment: health2016.globalchange.govAdditional Resources