Climate Justice Matters Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH September 20, 2015 Washington, D.C.

1. HEALTH IMPACTS a. Potentially catastrophic for human survival b. Undermine the last half- century of gains in development and global health c. A medical emergency Slide from Nick Watts, Lancet Commission on Climate Change and Health

3 SOCIAL INJUSTICE IS KILLING PEOPLE ON A GRAND SCALE WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, /display.php?selected=174 People Living in Poverty

4 Climate Vulnerability

 46% of African Americans and 36% of Latinos reside in the two highest risk categories compared to 30% of whites  Median income in the highest risk area is 40% lower than the lowest risk area 5 English et al, Intl J Climate Change,2013 Climate Change Vulnerability in Los Angeles County  Central air conditioning  Tree canopy  Impervious surface  Public transit routes  Elderly living alone  Household car access  Wildfire risk  Flood risk  Sea rise inundation

Co-Harms? 6 LCFS: Food Prices & Insecurity Market Mechanisms: Pollution in EJ Communities Groundwater Use: Subsidence TOD: Gentrification Green Jobs: Occupational Risks Job Loss Rebates for Whom?

“We have been mortgaging the health of future generations to realise economic and development gains in the present. By unsustainably exploiting nature’s resources, human civilisation has flourished but now risks substantial health effects from the degradation of nature’s life support systems in the future.” Lancet Commission on Planetary Health, 2015

8 Climate Justice Global-Local-Intergenerational Per Capita CO2

IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report The Choices We Make Will Create Different Outcomes With substantial mitigation Without additional mitigation Change in average surface temperature (1986–2005 to 2081–2100) AR5 WGI SPM

Highest levels CO 2 in at least 800,000 years 10

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 : 515 GtC Amount Remaining: 275 GtC Total Carbon Budget: 790 GtC AR5 WGI SPM

The Choice is Ours 12

2. POLICY RESPONSES FOR HEALTH “Responding to climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21 st century” Slide from Nick Watts, Lancet Commission

“……if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd your G-d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the L-rd's wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the L- rd gives you.” Translation of the Shema 162/jewish/Translation.htm "Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet's capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now." "Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet's capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si hp?id=61361 Do not strut arrogantly on the earth. You will never split the earth apart nor will you ever rival the mountains’ stature. Qur’an 17: 37 The world is sweet and verdant, and verily Allah has made you stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves. /

 Establishes goals to (by 2030):  Double energy efficiency in our buildings  Generate half of our electricity from renewable sources  Next time:  Reduce demand for petroleum use in vehicles by 50 percent legislation%E2%80%94sb-350#sthash.g3rIBBR0.dpuf

California Drivers Alliance – a program of the Western States Petroleum Association 17

Climate Action - For Health & Justice 18

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