New York State Department of Health CLIMATE CHANGE and PUBLIC HEALTH Mitigation, Adaptation and Research in New York State

New York State Department of Health What is Climate Change? “Any significant change in measures of climate, such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and other weather patterns, lasting for decades or longer.” Overwhelming consensus of scientific studies is that climate change is human caused and due to increases in greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuel. Climate change is occurring now, in New York and around the globe.

New York State Department of Health Atmospheric concentrations of important long-lived greenhouse gases over the last 2,000 years. Increases since about 1750 are attributed to human activities in the industrial era. Concentration units are parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb), indicating the number of molecules of the greenhouse gas per million or billion air molecules, respectively, in an atmospheric sample. (Source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007)

New York State Department of Health Global Emissions of Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases, 1970 to 2004 (Source: IPCC. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policymakers, Figure SPM3, p.5.)

New York State Department of Health Climate Change Indicators

New York State Department of Health Climate Change Indicators (Source: The State of the Climate Highlights: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2009.)

New York State Department of Health Climate Risks in NYS Stronger, longer heat waves More frequent/heavy precipitation events More frequent/severe droughts More frequent severe weather events Sea level rise/coastal flooding

New York State Department of Health Public Health Consequences Increase in heat-related morbidity/mortality Increase in vector-, water- and food-borne disease Loss of water supply and water quality Outcomes associated with loss of electricity Increase in adverse health outcomes associated with air pollution (e.g., asthma, COPD)

New York State Department of Health Public Health Consequences Increase in health conditions associated with allergens Effects on the food supply Evacuation of health care facilities Disrupted access to emergency/routine medical care Mental/emotional health consequences

New York State Department of Health Climate Justice/Climate Gap Everyone is at risk, but greatest health burdens likely to fall on those with lowest socioeconomic status 1 –Ethnic/racial minorities & people who have low incomes CA Climate Adaptation Strategy 2 describes inequities in context of extreme heat: - Chronic illness- Urban heat islands - Air conditioning access- Occupation - Fear of crime 1 CCSP (Climate Change Science Program) Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems. Final Report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.6. Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Gamble, JL (ed.), Ebi, KL, Sussman, FG, Wilbanks, TJ (Authors). Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency. 2 Available at:

New York State Department of Health Ten Essential Services of Public Health Source: Frumkin, H, Hess, J, Luber, G, Malilay, J, McGeehin, M Climate change: The public health response. American Journal of Public Health 98(3):

New York State Department of Health Mitigation & Adaptation Mitigation: actions/policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions –“40 by 30” and “80 by 50” Adaptation: actions/policies to prepare for climate change, to reduce its impacts and to take advantage of new opportunities. –occurs at individual, community, organizational, institutional levels –calls for incorporating climate change information into planning & decision making

New York State Department of Health Adaptation “As climate change has become a certainty, so has the need for public health action to anticipate, manage, and ameliorate the health burdens it will impose” (Source: Frumkin, H, Hess, J, Luber, G, Malilay, J, McGeehin, M Climate change: The public health response. American Journal of Public Health 98(3): )

New York State Department of Health Actions/Initiatives/Programs NYS Climate Action Plan (Interim) NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force NYC NYS Department of Environmental Conservation NYS Energy Research and Development Authority Research and Grants

New York State Department of Health NYS Climate Action Plan Required by Executive Order (EO 24, 2008) EO 24 established NYS Climate Action Council NYS CAP (Interim Report) issued 11/10 CAP addresses mitigation and adaptation Multiple “sectors” addressed: –Public Health –Agriculture –Transportation –etc.

New York State Department of Health NYS CAP: Public Health Adaptation Recommendations Improve/establish robust mechanisms to reduce the potential for heat-related morbidity and mortality in New York State Educate/empower/engage all New Yorkers to foster a better understanding of the public health consequences of climate change and take actions to reduce/eliminate those consequences Assess and improve the capacity of existing public health preparedness, response, and recovery programs to respond to climate-related impacts and direct resources where needed Build community resilience and integrated public health capacity to reduce human health impacts of climate change

New York State Department of Health NYS CAP: Public Health Adaptation Recommendations Evaluate and enhance, as necessary, the capacity of existing surveillance programs for vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases and disease-causing agents to monitor and respond to the anticipated climate change- related increase in such public health threats Assess and prepare for the significant public health risks associated with hazards related to sea level rise Conduct and support research on the public health consequences of climate change and their effective incorporation into adaptation strategies

New York State Department of Health NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force Established in 2007 by NYS Legislature Charged with assessing the impacts of rising seas on the state’s coastlines, and recommending protective and adaptive measures Final report to the NYS Legislature issued 12/31/10 Issues addressed included: –Public works/infrastructure –Effects on communities (public health, loss of shelter, disrupted livelihoods and loss of economic vitality, quality of life and community cohesion) Public health recommendation: “Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the public health risks associated with sea level rise, coastal hazards and climate change including compromised indoor air quality, effects on drinking water, posttraumatic stress and other mental health problems, increases in disease vectors, impaired access to health care, and loss of reliable access to food and medical supplies.”

New York State Department of Health NYS DEC Office of Climate Change –Climate Science and Technology –Climate Programs and Partnerships Climate Smart Communities –Partnership between NYS and local communities “to lower greenhouse gases and save taxpayer dollars through climate smart actions that also promote community health and safety, affordability, economic strength and quality of life.”

New York State Department of Health NYSERDA ClimAID: The Integrated Assessment for Effective Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in New York State –Goal of providing decision makers with information on the state’s vulnerability to climate change and to facilitate developing adaptation strategies –Authored by university and research scientists (e.g., Columbia University, City University of New York, Cornell University) –Covers range of “sectors” (public health, agriculture, ecosystems, etc.) –Draft report issued 11/01/10 Adaptation and mitigation research funding

New York State Department of Health NYC PlaNYC – A comprehensive sustainability plan for NYC’s future Initiatives related to climate change include: –Expanding greenspace and city-wide tree planting –Creating public plazas in all communities –Promoting use of cleaner burning heating fuels –Reducing motor vehicle emissions

New York State Department of Health Research/Grants “Climate Variability/Change and the Risks of Under- Studied Adverse Health Outcomes” (CDC). Goals: –To identify which specific diseases are related to individual weather factors including assessment of: Effects of extreme events and climate variability on health outcomes Interactive effects of air pollutants Vulnerable populations –To evaluate utility and efficacy of a composite weather indicator in the study of health effects of weather –To establish a climate-health tracking system and develop public health communication/education strategies DOH contact: Shao Lin

New York State Department of Health Evidence of Increasing Warming and Wetness in NYS ( ) Supported in part by Grant #5U01EH (NY) National Center for Environmental Health, Center for Disease Control and Grant # 5U38EH National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The meteorological data are provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research which is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.

New York State Department of Health Research/Grants “Developing Public Health Capacity and Adaptations to Reduce Human Health Effects of Climate Change in New York State” (CDC) Overarching goal is to leverage existing programmatic initiatives to reduce human health effects of climate change by: –Enhancing assessment –Expanding planning –Building capacity DOH contact: Kathleen Clancy

New York State Department of Health Summary Climate change: –is real –is happening now –poses significant public health threats There is an urgent need for planning and action

New York State Department of Health Some Information Resources Climate Literacy. The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences 20Booklet%20Hi-Res.pdf 20Booklet%20Hi-Res.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change NYSERDA’s ClimAID Project synthesis-draft.pdf NYS Climate Action Plan

New York State Department of Health Some Information Resources NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force NYS DEC Office of Climate Change NYC – PlaNYC (climate change) APHA Webinar Series: “Climate Change: Mastering the Public Health Role”