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Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D.
© 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