Climate Change in Georgia: Jeremy Hess, MD, MPH National Center for Environmental Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Threats and Response

Exposures & Effects Heat Storms, coastal flooding Vector biology Air pollutants Food supply Civil conflict Climate change effects: Temperature Sea level Precipitation Morbidity/mortality Morbidity/mortality/ displacement Infectious diseases Respiratory diseases Malnutrition Morbidity/mortality/ displacement

Climate Change Hotspots Cities Coastal regions and low-lying areas Islands Vector-borne disease border regions Drought-prone regions Desert Southwest The Arctic

Our Hotspots

Increased Temperatures

Urban Heat

Heat Waves UK2,091 Italy3,134 France14,802 Portugal1,854 Spain4,151 Switzerland975 Netherlands1,400-2,200 Germany1,410 TOTAL29,817-30,617

Respiratory Disease

Drought and Fires

Vector-borne Diseases

Complex Ecology Vector-borne diseases International commerce and travel Climate change and variability Land use and deforestation Water storage and irrigation Poverty Human population growth Human behavior and prevention strategies

Sea Level Rise

Extreme Precipitation

Floods, Displacement Exacerbations chronic disease Depression Suicidality Disempowerment Disengagement Community paralysis

Waterborne Diseases

How to Respond?

Limits of Our Thinking Highly technical and complex Beyond anyone’s experience or imagination Terrifying to contemplate Resistance to necessary changes Misinformation actively disseminated Limited knowledge climate-health associations Nevertheless, public health provides a useful lens...

Essential Services Track diseases and trends related to climate change Credible resource on health consequences of climate change Heat wave and severe storm response plans Public health workforce prepared to respond Investigate infectious water-, food-, and vector- borne disease outbreaks Partnerships with private sector, civic groups, NGOs, faith community, etc. Study and predict links between climate change and health

Vulnerability Mapping

Synergies and Co-benefits Heat wave plans, “buddy systems”↑ Social capital ↓ Vehicular travel↓ Car crashes, ↓ air pollution ↑ Fuel efficiency↓ Air pollution, ↓ respiratory disease Locally grown food↓ Pesticide loading Energy-efficient buildings↓ Operating costs Alternative energy sourcesBusiness opportunities

Conclusions The future ain’t what it used to be Place is a key exposure variable for the climate change’s health effects Place is also fundamental to the response The opportunity costs of inaction are high Co-benefits of proactive response are significant Public health is poised to assist

Thank you!