Surveillance Webinar: Climate Change and Health-Surveillance Webinar: Climate Change and Health PPT

Surveillance Webinar: Climate Change and Health PPT

Pdf Summary

The webinar, presented by Dr. Polly Thomas from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, focuses on the evidence, causes, health effects, and physician roles related to climate change and health, particularly preventive medicine. It highlights the rapid pace of current climate change compared to historical patterns, with examples such as delayed first frost in New Jersey and shifting ecological markers like plant leafing and bird migration.<br /><br />Evidence for climate change includes rising global surface temperatures (about 1.0°C over the last century), increased heatwaves, sea surface temperature rise, glacier retreat, intensified rainfall and droughts, and shifting dryness lines. These physical changes induce biological shifts, such as altered species ranges and disruptions like predator-prey asynchrony.<br /><br />Human-driven greenhouse gas emissions—primarily CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and decreased carbon sinks like forests—are identified as key mechanisms driving global warming. The 2023 IPCC report confirms unequivocal human causation, with ongoing increases in emissions linked to unsustainable energy use and land practices.<br /><br />Health impacts overview centers on three areas: heat-related illness, air quality effects, and vector-borne diseases. Heat-related conditions, ranging from cramps to life-threatening heatstroke, are increasing, with vulnerable populations disproportionately affected. Climate change worsens air pollution by enhancing ozone formation and increasing particulate matter from wildfires, raising risks for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.<br /><br />Vector-borne illnesses are spreading as disease-carrying mosquitoes (e.g., Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus) and ticks expand their ranges due to warming. Diseases such as malaria, dengue, Lyme disease, and others are becoming more prevalent in new areas.<br /><br />Preventive medicine/public health physicians play vital roles in adaptation—caring for affected patients, incorporating climate risks into screenings, supporting resilient health systems, surveillance, and emergency preparedness—and mitigation through personal actions, organizational sustainability, advocacy, and collaboration with other medical specialties to reduce healthcare-related emissions.<br /><br />The presentation stresses land conservation to stabilize ecosystems, citing calls for protecting half the planet to safeguard biodiversity and climate. Attendees are encouraged to join the ACPM Climate and Health Education Special Interest Group for continued engagement.

Keywords

Climate Change

Health Effects

Preventive Medicine

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Heat-Related Illness

Air Quality

Vector-Borne Diseases

Physician Roles

Ecosystem Conservation

IPCC Report