Climate Change, Health, & Health Inequities November 12, 2014 Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH [email protected] 1
Jul 05, 2015
Climate Change, Health,
& Health Inequities
November 12, 2014
Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH
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“Climate change is the defining health challenge of our time.” Margaret Chan, World Health Organization
“Climate change threatens our fragile existence on this planet.” Jim Kim, World Bank
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"Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale.”WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008
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http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/human-health
http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/WGIIAR5-Chap11_FGDall.pdf
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_SPM.pdf
www.energy.ca.gov/2012publications/CEC-500-2012-007/CEC-500-2012-007.pdf
Climate-Health Pathway
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Adapted from Patz et.al. 2000 EnvHlthPersp
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Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
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Global Climate Impacts
WarmingWarming
Hydrologic
Variability
Ocean AcidificationSea Level Rise
Glacier &
Snowpack Loss
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Local Climate Impacts
http://c-change.la/temperature/
More Heat
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Local Climate Impacts
Wildfires
Coastal Flooding
Drought
Decreased Snowpack
Environmental & SocioeconomicIntermediate
Factors
Extreme weather injuries, drownings, fatalities
Heat-related illnesses and deaths
Air pollution impacts – respiratory, cardiovascular
Allergic disease
Infectious disease
Water and food-borne disease
Vector-borne disease
Food insecurity and malnutrition
Water insecurity
Displacement and migration
Stress and mental health impacts 12
Climate Health Impacts
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Heat Illness
Leading weather-related cause of death U.S. 1979 – 2003 : 8,015 deathsCalifornia (2006): 655 deaths Europe (2003): > 70,000 excess deaths
•Russia (2010): 55,000 excess deaths•1 million acres burnt•25% drop in crop yields
Higher Temperatures Worsen Air Pollution
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Drought and Health
Water quantity
Water quality
Food insecurity
Wildfire
Vector-born disease
Dust
Infectious disease
Sanitation
Recreational risk
Mental Health
Job loss & poverty
“Climate Gap”
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ClimateHealth
Inequities
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Other Environmental Impacts
Health Inequities Pathway
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Adapted from Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative
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Living Conditions: Physical, Social, Economic, Services Environments
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"Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale.”WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008
“Climate Gap”
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ClimateHealth
Inequities
Climate Change Vulnerability & Resilience
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Root Causes
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Reduce
Greenhouse gases
Air pollution
Noise
Infrastructure costs
Community severance
Increase
Physical activity
Social capital
Reductions
Respiratory disease
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Depression
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Stress
Avoidable increases
Bike/ped injuries
Systems: Active Transportation Co-Benefits
ITHIM Preliminary Projections of Health Impacts of Increased Bicycling and
Walking: 4 to 19 minutes of daily physical activity, SCAG Region
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Change in disease
burden
Change in premature
deaths/yr
Cardiovascular Dis.* 12% 3,134
Diabetes 12% 374
Depression 3% <2
Dementia 6% 465
Breast cancer 3% 60
Colon Cancer 3% 75
Road traffic crashes 22% 315
* Ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertensive heart disease
Reduce
Greenhouse gases
Air pollution
Fuel poverty
Asthma
Respiratory disease
CVD
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• Reduce• Asthma
• Respiratory
disease
• CVD
• Adverse birth
outcomes
Systems:
Clean Energy/Energy Efficiency Co-Benefits
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Reductions
GHG emissions
Pesticide use
Synthetic fertilizer use
Food miles
Antibiotic use
Water pollution
Soil erosion
Biodiversity loss
Meat consumption
Unsustainable H2O consumption
Increases
Access affordable healthy food
Rural community strength
Agricultural land preservation
Reductions
Obesity
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer (breast, prostate,
colorectal)
Type II Diabetes
Antibiotic resistance
Pesticide illness
Systems:
Sustainable Local Food Systems Co-Benefits
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Heat Resilience Co-Benefits
Urban greening Reduce heat illness risk
Places to be active
Healthy food access
Reduce storm water run-off & flooding risk
Replenish groundwater
Reduce crime
Decrease energy consumption
Lower energy costs
Reduce air pollution
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Co-Benefits of Urban Greening
Co-harms
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IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report
The Choices We Make Will Create Different Outcomes
With substantial
mitigationWithout
additional
mitigation
Change in average surface temperature (1986–2005 to 2081–2100)AR5 WGI SPM
Highest levels CO2 in at least 800,000 years
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IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report
The window for action is rapidly closing
65% of our carbon budget compatible with a 2°C goal already used
Amount Used
1870-2011:
515GtC
Amount
Remaining:
275GtC
Total Carbon
Budget:
790GtC
AR5 WGI SPM
The Choice is Ours
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Climate Change is a Health Emergency.
Climate,Health, and Equity in All Policies
Opportunities for Action
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Consider climate, health, and equity impacts of all legislation Support AB32: full implementation of cap-and-trade; strong 2030
targets
Oppose expansion of fossil fuel extraction/production Support rapid acceleration/increased funding for active
transportation; include health/equity accounting in transportation planning
Strengthen building standards for climate resilience Urge public pension systems to divest from fossil fuels Mandate implementation of extreme heat guidance Regulate methane leakage in gas
extraction/production/transport Support green zones and just transition Create incentives for sustainable ag and peri-urban ag Make polluters pay e.g. carbon tax, nitrogen fertilizer tax Hold every agency and department accountable for CHE Be a leader. Talk to your constituents and colleagues
IPCC Key
Messages
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Human influence on the climate system is clear
The more we disrupt our climate, the more we risk severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts
We have the means to limit climate change and build a more prosperous, sustainable future
IPCC AR 5 Synthesis Report 2014
Linda’s Key
Messages Climate change is affecting our
health and well-being now.
Climate change is a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing health challenges and health inequities
Low-income and communities of color suffer a “climate gap”
We can transform our systems to create healthy, equitable, sustainable communities
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