Climate Change
BLOG about the
following:
1.
What
do you personally find most troubling about climate change?
Personally, I
find unanticipated health problems/threats that take place where they have
not previously occurred the most troubling about climate change. When a
community experiences a specific disaster for the first time, they are ill-prepared
for the negative health effects that take place along with it. For example, if
a community experiences a flooding for the first time they will be ill-equipped
to handle issues such as potential contamination of fresh water supplies,
increased risks of water-borne diseases, and potential disruption to the supply
of medical and health services. It is devastating whenever disasters, such as
flooding, take place. However, it becomes catastrophic when the area has not
anticipated these events, and therefore is left unprepared and vulnerable to
the situation.
2.
As
a public health professional, what do you think needs the greatest
attention right now?
From a public health professional standpoint,
we need to focus on the following areas right now:
· Educating the public on the dangers of climate
change
One of the first steps
towards creating both immediate and long-term solutions is to provide effective
climate change education to the public. Education can take place in the form of
national campaigns, and outreach. Increasing
the number of informed and engaged citizens will result in people better
understanding the public health risks surrounding climate change, which will motivate
people to change their habits and make better daily choices to reverse the negative
effects of climate change. Better choices can include utilizing public
transportation, buying electric cars, or taking less flights.
· Preparing for the potential impacts that
result from climate change
Using
California as an example, we will likely continue to experience rising temperatures and changing rain patterns that will lead to
more frequent intense droughts. We can prepare for this by reducing our water
usage. One way to do this is by using low-flow faucets.
· Demanding policy change
People need to
exercise their right as citizens and demand changes to national policies to meet the challenges and risks of climate change dangers and
global warming.
3.
If
you were visiting with a long-lost relative who had never heard about climate
change, how would you describe it and its attendant human health and ecological
threats?
I would begin by
explaining how the Earth is getting warmer as a result of increasing amounts
of heat-trapping gases (called greenhouse gases) being added to the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases are mainly caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The average temperature
of earth’s surface has already increased 1.7 degrees since 1880, resulting in
changes around the world such as melting glaciers, rapidly rising seas, and
stronger storms. Earth’s land, air, and water are all connected to the climate,
and therefore effected by these changes, which are becoming bigger and
happening faster than any previous climate changes that we (modern society)
have experienced before.
I would then go on to describe the potential public
health risks connected to climate change such as: water-related illnesses, increased
exposure
of food to certain pathogens and toxins, and likely worsening allergy and
asthma conditions. The severity of
these health risks will depend on the ability of public health and safety
systems to address or prepare for these changing threats, as well as factors
such as an individual's behavior, age, gender, and economic status. I would
stress that the impacts will vary based on where a person lives, how sensitive
the person is to health threats, how much the person is exposed to climate
change impacts, and how well the person and their community are able to adapt
to change. I would end by encouraging my relative to continue learning more
about climate change’s impact on human health, and how they can help to be part
of the solution.
Resources:
· Climate
Change Explained. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifrHogDujXw
· United
States Environmental Protection Agency. A Student’s Guide to Global Climate
Change. Retrieved from: https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange//kids/basics/index.html
· World
Health Organization. Media Centre. Climate Change and Health. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/
Hello Angie! This is a great post! I really like your definition of climate change it was very detailed. I definitely think people can demand for policy change because it is their right as citizens. I also think their needs to be more education for youth to understand how climate change effects their environment and health.
ReplyDeleteI agree! We need to educate people about the effects of climate change and what could possibly happen because of it. I don't think that we are prepared enough for the disasters that could happen, and we need to be more aware and responsive in the event that any catastrophic events occur, big or small. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDelete