Duncan P Walker i Stockphoto com 2007 Stephen

© Duncan P. Walker, i. Stockphoto. com, 2007 Stephen H. Linder, Ph. D.

Responding to the Challenges of Climate Disruption Stephen H. Linder, Ph. D. The University of Texas School of Public Health ©Nature Canada

The World Health Organization’s summary: Global climate is warming Warming has accelerated in the last 25 years Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting Extreme weather events are changing in intensity and frequency CO 2 emitted by fossil fuel combustion is a principal cause Continued Warming could lead to abrupt changes

epa. gov/climatechange/emissions/co 2_human. html

epa. gov/climatechange/emissions/co 2_human. html

CC M. Tobis, 2009

Strategies for Mitigation Federal Action Local Action Personal Measures

Framing Conse Cap ergy n E e v r Clean Energy Efficiency Green Transportation he t tec men o r P iron Env GHG Emis Nationa sion l Securi s ty

Senate Bingamon S 1462 Stabenow S 2729 Kerry-Boxer S 1733 House June 2009 November 2009 Alexander-Webb S 2729 Cantwell-Collins S 2877 Kerry-Lieberman Luger-Graham Waxman-Markey HR 2454

US EPA and Greenhouse Gases Elevated concentrations of 6 GHGs The Air Pollutant Observed & Projected Climate Change Adverse health effects Exposure mechanism Endangerment of public health and welfare

Key Elements for Endangerment Analysis (1) Amounts being emitted by human activity (2) Accumulation (3) Changes in energy balance (4) Observed temperature and climatic changes (5) Observed changes in other climate sensitive sectors (6) Observed changes due to human induced buildup (7) Future projected change under different scenarios (8) Projected Risks to health society and the environment

A different kind of Technical Support Document U. N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- 4 Assessment Reports U. S. Climate Change Science Program -- 21 Syntheses and Assessments National Research Council -- 5 Reports

A different kind of air pollution No direct respiratory or toxic effects No significant contribution required Not attributable to one source Global and regional Time scale of several decades

A different kind of causality Mediation by scenarios of causal sequences No dose-response relationship Projected effects Prospective harm Anticipatory action

Different kinds of health effects Changes in air quality -- strong and clear support Increases in temperatures -- support Changes in extreme weather events –- clear support Increases in vector-borne pathogens and aeroallergens -- not primary Susceptible populations

WHO, Figure 3. 1, Climate Change and Human Health

Strategies for Adaptation Disaster Preparedness Public Education & Risk Communication Enhanced Monitoring

Monitoring Health Outcomes WHO, Climate Change and Human Health

Google Images, 2010