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Climate Change and Human Health: Update from the National Climate Assessment

Climate Change and Human Health: Update from the National Climate Assessment. John M. Balbus, MD, MPH Senior Advisor for Public Health National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Communities : Human Health and Community Development Webinar May 1, 2014. Key Message 1.

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Climate Change and Human Health: Update from the National Climate Assessment

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  1. Climate Change and Human Health: Update from the National Climate Assessment John M. Balbus, MD, MPH Senior Advisor for Public Health National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Communities: Human Health and Community Development Webinar May 1, 2014

  2. Key Message 1 “Climate change threatens human health and well-being in many ways, including impacts from increased extreme weather events, wildfire, decreased air quality, diseases transmitted by insects, food and water, and threats to mental health. Some of these health impacts are already underway in the U.S.” Figure 9.6 (p.341), draft report.

  3. 2012 had 11 billion-dollar disasters

  4. Regional examples of health problems related to weather/climate or climate change • Northwest: heat waves, Cryptococcus gattii (fungal infections); vibrio food contamination • Southwest: wildfires (respiratory effects); drought and dust diseases; hantavirus • Florida: new outbreaks of dengue fever after decades of eradication • Central: floods- injuries, mold, water contamination • East coast: hurricanes/superstorms, heatwaves, air pollution

  5. Key Message 2 “Climate change will, absent other changes, amplify some of the existing health threats the nation now faces. Certain people and communities are especially vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and some communities of color.” Figure 9.12 (p.350), draft report.

  6. Special vulnerability of communities in Alaska: one assessment • Coastal erosion • Melting permafrost • Transportation • Food storage • Increasing rates of • Diabetes • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Brubaker et al., Global Health Action, 2011

  7. Key Message 3 “Public health actions, especially preparedness and prevention, can do much to protect people from some of the impacts of climate change. Early action provides the largest health benefits. As threats increase, our ability to adapt to future changes may be limited.” Figure 9.13 (p.352), draft report.

  8. Key Message 4 “Responding to climate change provides opportunities to improve human health and well-being across many sectors, including energy, agriculture, and transportation. Many of these strategies offer a variety of benefits, protecting people while combating climate change and providing other societal benefits.”

  9. Key Health Threats • Multiple Climate Stressors & Health • Climate change impacts add to the cumulative stresses currently faced by vulnerable populations • Certain locations cluster exposures to hazards (coastlines, flood zones) • Societal System Failures During Extreme Events • E.g., damage to energy, transportation, water infrastructure can exceed response capacity • Large-Scale Environmental Change Favors Disease Emergence • Factors include shifting pest ranges, lack of immunity & preparedness, inadequate monitoring. • Diseases that pose increasing US health threats include Lyme disease, dengue fever, new diseases like Chikungunya.

  10. Thank you! John.balbus@nih.gov http://www.niehs.nih.gov/geh http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/climate-change-health.html

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