Global Warming Why Health Professionals Care Revised July 09
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Transcript of Global Warming Why Health Professionals Care Revised July 09
Global Warming:Why Public Health Professionals Care,
and Why You Should Too.
Ed Maibach, MPH, PhDProfessor, George Mason UniversityPublic health professional since 1982
[Insert your name & specs below]
Agenda
4 things you need to know about global warming:
It’s real
We’re causing it
It’s bad for us*
We can solve it*
Global warming is real.
“(The) warming of (our) climate is unequivocal.”Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007)
Warming is only part of the story
We’re causing climate change.
Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the … increase in (human-caused)green-house gas concentrations (in our atmosphere).
—IPCC (2007)
You, me, and everyone
But some more than others...
Carbon emissions, 2000worldmapper.org
“We need to… convince the world that humanity really is the most important species endangered by climate change.”
—Margaret Chan, MD, Director-General, World Health Organization
“Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing our nation. Yet few Americans are aware of the very real consequences of climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our children.”
—Georges Benjamin, MD, Executive Director
American Public Health Association
Climate change is bad for people.
Climate Change ➜ Rising Temperature
Extreme Temperatures ➜ Heat Stress
August 2003: 34,000 deaths in France alone.
Climate Change ➜ Extreme Weather
Stronger storms (& rising sea level) ➜ Injuries, fatalities
Climate Change ➜ Extreme Weather
Droughts & Floods ➜ Water & Food Scarcity & Safety Problems
Climate Change ➜ Reduced Air Quality Air pollution ➜ Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease
Pollens ➜ Allergies ➜ Respiratory problem
Climate Change ➜ Disrupted Ecosystems
Disruptions ➜ New Opportunities for Diseases To Thrive
Regional variations
Northwest
Southwest
The GreatPlains
Southwest Atlantic and Gulf Coast
Midwest And Northeast
Northeast
Alaska
Southwest• Degraded air quality
• Urban Heat Island
• Heat Waves
• Wildfires
• Early Snow Melt
• Drought
• Extreme rainfall/ Flooding
• Sea-level Rise
Killed by Drought, 1975-2000worldmapper.org
Killed by Floods, 1975-2000worldmapper.org
Carbon emissions, 2000worldmapper.org
Killed by Storms, 1975-2000worldmapper.org
Climate Change ➜ Sea-level Rise & Extreme Temperature & Weather
Increased poverty, starvation, armed conflict environmental refugees, anxiety, post-traumatic stress,
depression, despair
Climate change is a problem we can solve.
Because our actions are causing the problem,our actions can slow the problem.Our actions can eventually stop the problem.
Is this the world we want to leave to our children?
Small actions – Big impacts
Veggie lunch = 72 balloons of CO2 prevented
= 10 lb. CO2= <1 lb. CO2
We can take actions as consumers
In what we do at homeIn how we travelIn what we eatIn what we buyIn how we work
We can encourage changes in our city’s or county’s policies
• Their goal: Reduce municipal carbon emission 21% by 2012 (starting in ‘03)
• Result: A reduction of 31% by 2006 – that’s 148% of goal 6 years ahead of schedule
We can encourage changes in state and national policies
We can solve this problem.
We get this
Instead of this
Instead of this
We get this
Instead of this
We get this
Instead of this
We get this
Lower CO2 Emissions
Increased Physical Activity
Less Osteoporosis
Fewer Injuries
Lower Air Pollution
Lower Infrastructure Costs
Increased Social Capital
Less Depression
Increased Happiness
Questions?
Summary
Climate change:
It’s real
We’re causing it
It’s bad for us
We can solve it, if we act now.
Taking the actions necessary to solve the problem will re-make our communities into nicer, healthier, happier places to live.
Thank you.