Climate Change, Health,

& Health Inequities

November 12, 2014

Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH

linda.rudolph@phi.org

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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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