john m. balbus, md, mph national institute of environmental health sciences captain edward a....
TRANSCRIPT
John M. Balbus, MD, MPHNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Captain Edward A. Pfister, RS, MSPHHHS Environmental Program Manager
HHS/OS/ASA/OFMP
USPHS Scientific and Training SymposiumJune 20, 2012
Climate Health Risks and Community Resilience
Potential Health Effects of Climate Change
Climate Change:
Temperature rise
Sea level rise
Hydrologic extremes
HEAT Heat stress, cardiovascular failure
SEVERE WEATHER Injuries, fatalities
AIR POLLUTION Asthma, cardiovascular disease
ALLERGIES Respiratory allergies, poison ivy
VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES
Malaria, dengue, encephalitis, hantavirus, Rift Valley fever
WATER-BORNE DISEASES Cholera, cryptosporidiosis, campylobacter, leptospirosis
WATER AND FOOD SUPPLY Malnutrition, diarrhea,
harmful algal blooms
MENTAL HEALTH Anxiety, despair, depression, post-traumatic stress
ENVIRONMENTAL REFUGEES Forced migration, civil
conflictAdapted from J. Patz
How does climate change influence human health?
• Direct impacts of climate change, weather, and sea level rise on humans
– Heat stress– Weather-disease curves– Storms, weather extremes
• Impacts of climate change on physical and chemical agents
– Air pollution effects– Fate and transport of toxic chemicals– Ozone depletion interactions
How does climate change influence human health?
• Impacts of weather and climate change on biological agents– Microbes (including algae)– Plants (pollens, poisons)– Zoonoses, including VBD’s
• Impacts of climate change and sea level rise on fundamental life support– Water availability– Food/crop productivity– Shelter
A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change
• Identifies research needed to better understand the health effects of climate change, and choose the healthiest mitigation and adaptation strategies:– 11 Health Consequences Categories
– Crosscutting issues
www.niehs.nih.gov/climatereport
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Eleven Human Health and Disease Categories
• Asthma, respiratory allergies, and airway diseases
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Foodborne diseases and nutrition
• Heat-related morbidity and mortality
• Human developmental effects
• Mental health and stress-related disorders
• Neurological diseases and disorders
• Vectorborne and zoonotic diseases
• Waterborne diseases
• Weather-related morbidity and mortality
http://www.ipcc.ch/graphics/graphics/ar4-wg1/ppt/figure02.ppt#278,22,Figure 2.21
Allaffect human health
Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation
• Adaptation is a response, the actions necessitated by the actual or anticipated impacts of climate change.
Mitigation is the effort to stop or slow climate change, usually by reducing the GHG emissions driving the problem.
Two prongs used in concert: mitigation reduces impacts, making it adaptation easier .
Potential Co-benefits of GHG Mitigation Policies
• Energy generation – decreased air pollution
• Transportation – increased physical activity, decreased air pollution, decreased injuries from collisions
• Agriculture – reduced red meat consumption – Livestock has a huge GHG footprint (deforestation, water, transport, refrigeration…)
• Agriculture – improved nutrition
Potential Co-benefits of GHG Mitigation Policies
• For example, transportation policies that augment the use of public transportation or provide safer and more convenient means for individuals to walk or bicycle
Co-benefits:
• reductions in toxic air pollution
• Increases in physical activity
Adaptation principles
• Climate change as stress multiplier• Focus on vulnerability of people (and/or health systems) to climate
change; assure continuity of services
• Impact is proportional to baseline prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases– prepare for future impacts of climate change on health
• Address existing health disparities in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma
• Address upstream determinants of health• Investigate health implications of major climate change policy decisions
• Importance of urban infrastructure • options/strategies to respond to identified current and future health risks
President’s Climate Adaptation Task Force: Health Recommendation
• Protect human health by addressing climate change in public health activities– Enhance the ability of Federal
decision makers to incorporate health considerations into adaptation planning
– Build integrated public health surveillance and early warning systems to improve detection of climate change health risks
– Promote resilience of individuals and communities to climate‐related health risks 23
Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative
Category 1: Assessment and Planning to Develop Climate Change Programs
4 States and 1 City HD$80k - $120k / yr / 3 yrs
Activities• Agency needs assessment • Early strategic plan
implementation• Partnership building &
engagement with other initiatives
• Strategic plan development
Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative
4 States and 1 City HD
$150k - $250k / yr / 3 yrs
Activities• Strategic Plan Implementation• Identification and prediction of health
impacts & population & system vulnerabilities
• Develop & tailor health programs• Identify co-benefits and unintended
consequences of policies, programs and projects in other sectors (HIA)
Category 2: Building Capacity to Implement Climate Change Programs and Adaptations
Climate Change Adaptation: 2012 HHS Environmental Justice Strategy
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HHS can improve the resiliency of vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities, through increased understanding of the human health impacts of climate change and preparedness planning at the state and local levels. Health outcomes that are sensitive to climate change include asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke, heat-related illnesses and deaths, and mental and stress-related disorders.
Focus: Climate Change intersections with major HHS efforts
HHS Goals Climate Change Impacts
Mitigation/Adaptation Cobenefits
Reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
Impacts of heat stress and milder winters, air pollution
Reduced fossil fuel combustion Increased active transportation
Assure healthy home environments
Moisture and mold Home retrofits; improved insulation, ventilation
Preparedness and response capacity
Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events
Community resilience to all hazards
Reduce health disparities
Climate impacts on heat stroke, flooding, air pollution
Community engagement and preparedness
Highlights of High-Level Vulnerability Analysis for HHS
• Protecting the most vulnerable: health and human services in the face of weather extremes and climate threats– Office on Disability
– Administration for Children and Families
– Administration on Aging, Center for Medicare Services
– Indian Health Service
– Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
• Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Regulatory Decisions– FDA
• Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Public Health Practice and Research– CDC, ATSDR, NIH
Summary
• Climate change is having significant impacts on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in the United States and around the world
• While health adaptation is essential, it is equally important to highlight the health promotion benefits of climate change mitigation measures ‘
• Necessary to integrate climate change , disparity awareness, and health and environmental impact considerations into internal management functions and policies
• The Commissioned Corps, as a cadre of public health professionals, has a critical role to play in improving community resilience