Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D.

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2007

Responding to the Challenges of Climate Disruption

Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D.The University of Texas School of Public Health

©Nature Canada

Global climate is warming

Warming has accelerated in the last 25 years

Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting

Extreme weather events are changing in intensity and frequency

CO2 emitted by fossil fuel combustion is a principal cause

The World Health Organization’s summary:

Continued Warming could lead to abrupt changes

epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2_human.html

epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2_human.html

CC M.Tobis, 2009

Strategies for Mitigation

Federal Action

Local Action

Personal Measures

Framing

GreenTransportation

Conserve Energy

Protect the

Environment

National SecurityClean Energy

Cap GHG Emissions

Energy Efficiency

Kerry-Lieberman

Kerry-Boxer S1733

Cantwell-CollinsS2877

StabenowS2729

Alexander-WebbS2729

Waxman-MarkeyHR2454

Bingamon S1462

June 2009

November 2009

Luger-Graham

Senate House

Elevated concentrations of 6 GHGs

Endangerment of public healthand welfare

Observed & Projected Climate Change

The Air Pollutant

Exposure mechanism

Adverse health effects

US EPA and Greenhouse Gases

Key Elements for Endangerment Analysis

(1) Amounts being emitted by human activity

(2) Accumulation

(3) Changes in energy balance

(4) Observed temperature and climatic changes

(5) Observed changes in other climate sensitive sectors

(6) Observed changes due to human induced buildup

(7) Future projected change under different scenarios (8) Projected Risks to health

society and the environment

A different kind of Technical Support Document

U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- 4 Assessment Reports

U.S. Climate Change Science Program -- 21 Syntheses and Assessments

National Research Council -- 5 Reports

A different kind of air pollution

No direct respiratory or toxic effects

No significant contribution required

Not attributable to one source

Global and regional

Time scale of several decades

A different kind of causality

Mediation by scenarios of causal sequences

No dose-response relationship

Projected effects

Prospective harm

Anticipatory action

Different kinds of health effects

Changes in air quality -- strong and clear support

Increases in temperatures -- support

Changes in extreme weather events –- clear support

Increases in vector-borne pathogens and aeroallergens -- not primary

Susceptible populations

WHO, Figure 3.1, Climate Change and Human Health

Disaster Preparedness

Public Education

& Risk Communicatio

n

Enhanced Monitoring

Strategies for Adaptation

Monitoring Health Outcomes

WHO, Climate Change and Human Health

Google Images, 2010