Climate Change and One Health

1. Climate Change and One Health Dr. Pai-Yei Whung, Chief Scientist Office of the Science Advisor U.S. EPA Moral Heat: Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Regulation and Economics in the 21st Century Fordham University Center for Ethics Education 20 April 2010

2. Climate Change: Background http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html

3. Climate Change: Science • Greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for climate change (IPCC Reports) IPCC

4. Black Carbon & Global Warming: • Black carbon emissions (soot) are the second strongest contribution to current global warming • Replacing biofuel cooking with smoke-free cookers can have a dramatic impact on black carbon heating: • South Asia – a 70-80% decrease • East Asia – a 20-40% decrease Ramanathan and Carmichael (2008)

5. Potential Health Effects of Climate Change Climate change: • Weather extremes • Sea level rise • Ecosystem changes Source: Howard Frumkin (CDC)

6. “One Health” Concept • A strategy to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and communication for all aspects of human and animal health care. • Capitalizes on the natural links between animal and human health to improve the health and well-being of all species. • Medical organizations (e.g., American Medical Association), health agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), scientists, physicians and veterinarians. www.onehealthinitiative.com

7. “One Health”Human Health • Increased likelihood of heat waves • Interactions between a changing climate and air quality • Interactions between temperature and tropospheric ozone levels • Increased risk of wildfires • Changes in water quality and quantity • EPA’s National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change • Need to understand vulnerabilities • Geographical – climate data as well as geopolitical • Socioeconomic factors

8. “One Health”Agricultural Health – Human Nutrition • Agriculture may be affected by climate change: • Regional changes in temperature • Water availability and quality • Transportation restrictions • These may impact the variety and nutritional quality of food available, and intake of food varieties through changes of human behavior. Agricultural Research/November-December 2009, USDA FAS (http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/borlaug/ARS%20Global%20Climate%20Chanage.pdf)

9. “One Health”Ecosystem Health – Waterborne Diseases • Climate change affects ecosystems by: • Changing temperatures • Altered weather patterns • Stressed ecosystems may not be as effective at filtering diseases and contaminants from water. • Patz et al., 2008

10. “One Health”Ecosystem Health – Vector-borne Diseases • Ecosystems are homes to vectors of infectious diseases; e.g., • Rift Valley Fever (USDA, NASA, CDC, & DOD; 2008) • Leishmaniasis (J. Dujardin et al., 2008) • Climate change may alter the range of insects carrying infectious diseases.

11. Human Health Effects of Climate Change Some Examples… • Effects of Air Pollution Mixtures on Health • Expanding Heat-Wave Health Alert Systems • Integrating Human and Animal Health Surveillance Systems • Alterations in Water Flow and Disease A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (NIEHS)

12. Examples of Proposed Action on Climate Change US Capitol EPA HQ Building

13. Highlights of ProposedU.S. Climate Policies • Black Carbon Bill (U.S. Senate #849) • American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act (Waxman-Markey Bill, U.S. House of Representatives #2454) • National Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases

14. Black Carbon Bill (U.S. Senate #849) • Bipartisan legislation would direct the EPA to conduct a comprehensive study on black carbon emissions to improve worldwide public health and reduce global warming impacts. • Introduced to U.S. Senate on 22 April 2009. Now on the Senate Legislative Calendar. • Four-phase study to: • Develop a universal definition of black carbon • Identify global sources and reduction technologies • Identify international funding opportunities to mitigate black carbon emissions • Identify opportunities for future research and development.

15. American Clean Energy and Security Act (U.S. House of Representatives #2454) • This legislation has four goals: • Clean energy – promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration, low carbon fuels, clean electric vehicles, a smart grid • Energy efficiency – increases energy efficiency for buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry • Global warming – limits emissions of heat-trapping pollutants • Transitioning to a clean energy economy – protects U.S. consumers and industry while promoting green jobs during the upcoming transition period

16. EPA Priority Climate Change • “We will continue to support the President and Congress in enacting clean energy and climate legislation.” • “Using the Clean Air Act, we will finalize our mobile source rules and provide a framework for continued improvements in that sector.”  • “And we will continue to develop common-sense solutions for reducing GHG emissions from large stationary sources like power plants.” • “…we must also recognize that climate change will affect other parts of our core mission, such as protecting air and water quality, and we must include those considerations in our future plans.” Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator

17. U.S. EPA’s Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule • The final rule was signed by the Administrator on September 22, 2009. • Establishes the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by major sources. • The rule applies to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and other fluorinated gases, including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and hydrofluorinated ethers (HFE).  • The reporting threshold is 25,000 metric tons per year of CO2 equivalent GHG emissions. This is roughly the equivalent of the annual GHG emissions of 4,500 cars; most small businesses would be exempt from this reporting requirement.

18. U.S. EPA’s GreenhouseGases Endangerment Finding • Signed by Lisa Jackson on December 7, 2009. • This proposal under the Clean Air Act has two findings: • The current and projected concentrations of six key greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) – in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. • The combined emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, and HFCs from motor vehicles and engines contributes to atmospheric concentrations and threatens public health.

19. Final Thoughts