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Climate change is already affecting human health, and leading American doctors are growing even more concerned about how rising temperatures could impact the spread of disease and illness. The American College of Physicians released a position report this week calling for “aggressive, concerted” action to combat climate change by reducing man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
The report included information about the current health issues already aggravated by climate change. Incidents of respiratory illness and heat stroke along with infectious diseases like dengue fever, Zika virus, and cholera are on the rise as increased temperatures allow these types of diseases to thrive. The doctors outlined the issues of primary concern below:
-Respiratory illnesses, including asthma and COPD. Rising temperatures are causing an increase in ozone pollution, smoke from wildfires, and allergens produced by weeds, grasses and trees. Homes affected by heavy rains or flooding can become host to toxic mold and fungi.
-Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which are particularly dangerous for children and the elderly.
-Insect-borne illnesses, like Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya, which are ranging farther north as mosquitoes thrive in warmer climates.
-Water-borne illnesses, such as cholera, which can spread if drought causes poor sanitation or if heavy flooding causes sewer systems to overflow.
-Mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression connected to natural disasters, as well as the anxiety and stress that accompanies days of hot weather.
These types of health issues are also concerning because they will disproportionally affect the most vulnerable portions of the population: the elderly, the poor, and the sick. These populations will have the hardest time combatting changing conditions and preventing exposure to disease.
What is perhaps most significant about the report is that the doctors not only published the report to educate policymakers, but they also published it to advocate for change within the healthcare system. The report urges physicians to advocate for community climate change policies and to make their own practices more sustainable.
The ACP senior vice president of governmental affairs and public policy, Bob Doherty emphasized that “Our paper really talks about physicians being advocates in their own health systems, communities and practices to reduce carbon emissions.”
Behind agriculture, healthcare is the second most energy-intensive industry, and it is estimated that healthcare spends approximately $9 billion on energy each year. Although it would energy, funding, and momentum, healthcare systems could drastically reduce their energy usage by making sustainable changes like using alternative energy generation, green building design, water conservation, and more efficient waste disposal.
Only time will tell, but this kind of professional-led advocacy within a particular industry could be incredibly effective, perhaps more so than government-led blanket policy.
