Climate change is harming the health of Americans. Physical changes in our climate such as increased frequency of extreme weather and air pollution are causing a direct risk to our health and well-being.
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK:
Fewer than 32% of Americans can name a specific way in which climate change is harming our health. Physical changes in our climate such as flooding, drought, and wildfires are contributing to the spread of diseases, threatening our nutrition and putting our mental health at risk. This guide describes how climate change is affecting our health by identifying the groups of Americans that are at high risk.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. 97% of climate scientists have concluded that human-caused climate change is happening.
2. Climate change is harming our health now. Public health professionals are seeing the health of patients being harmed in communities across the nation.
3.American’s that face greater risk are children, student athletes, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses.
4. Without action these harms to our health are going to get worse.
5. Reducing energy waste and accelerating the transition to renewable energy is the most important action to protect our health.
How our Health is Harmed by Climate Change
– Extreme Temperatures
– Outdoor Air Quality
– Extreme Events ( Flooding Hurricanes, Storms, Drought)
– Food-related Infection & Agriculture
– Water Related infection
– Mosquito and Tick Borne Infections
– Wildfires
– Mental Health and Well-being
– Threats to Nutrition
