Climate Change

What does the pope say about climate change?

"climate change is a global problem with grave implications, and represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity"

What would we see if meat, dairy, and egg consumption was halved?

- GG emissions reduced 25-40% - saturated fat would drop 40% - ischemic heart disease reduced 15%

Ground-level ozone is associated with what kind of health problems? (3)

- diminished lung function - increased hospital admissions and ER visits for asthma - increases in premature deaths among those with asthma and CV disease

What are 2 alternatives for heating, cooling, and electricity?

- natural gas conversion - wind, solar, and to a much lesser extent biodiesel have large potential upsides

What would adopting a low carbon transportation system do?

- reduce climate change overall - improve human health by increased physical fitness, reduction in chronic diseases, and improved air quality

What are some risk from droughts? (7)

- wildfires - dust storms - extreme heat events - flash flooding - degraded water quality - reduced water quantity - reduced crop yields

About __ in __ overall believe global warming will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes.

1 in 3

How many additional deaths are estimated to occur from air pollution?

1,000-4,000 premature deaths nationally per year by 2050

What are 3 health effects of climate changes impacting food security?

1. Ams with particular dietary patterns will confront shortages of key foods 2. food insecurity increased with rising food prices; people cope by turning to nutrient-poor but calorie-rish foods and/or they endure hunger, with consequences ranging from micronutrient malnutrition to obesity 3. the nutritional value of some food is projected to decline, such as protein, Ca, Fe, Zc, vitamins, and sugars in crops

What are some vector-borne pathogens currently not found or just emerging in the US? (4)

1. Chikungunya 2. zika 3. Chagas disease 4. Rift Valley fever viruses

What are 4 opportunities for mitigation and adaptation?

1. alternative transportation 2. heating and cooling 3. housing 4. food systems

What are 10 indicators of a warming world?

1. decrease in sea ice 2. increase in see surface T 3. increase in T over oceans 4. increase in seal level 5. increase in water vapor 6. increase in air T near surface (troposphere) 7. increase in T over land 8. decrease in glaciers and ice sheets 9. decrease in snow cover 10. increase in ocean heat content

What are health risks of precipitation extremes? (4)

1. drowning 2. elevated waterborne disease outbreaks 3. water intrusion into buildings resulting in mold contamination that increases prevalence of asthma pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) 4. drought risks

What is the science supporting climate change? (2)

1. earth is warming 2. rising global T have been accompanied by changes in rainfall, intense rain, more floods, and droughts, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves

How can extreme weather events affect mental health? (6)

1. following disasters, mental health problems increase - "a common reaction to abnormal events" 2. stress mediated maternal fetal outcomes including pre-term birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications 3. suicide rates rise with high T 4. dementia is a risk for hospitalization/death during heat waves 5. patients with severe mental illness are at risk during hot weather b/c their medications may interfere with temperature regulation or cause hyperthermia 6. distress associated with environmental degradation and displacement and the anxiety and despair that knowledge of climate change might elicit in some people

What are 3 pillars of food security?

1. food availability 2. food access 3. food use

Heat wave deaths are attributed to what? (3)

1. heat stroke 2. dehydration 3. exacerbation of CV, respiratory, and cerebrovascular dz

How is human health impacted by climate change? (6)

1. heat waves 2. extreme weather events 3. reduced air quality 4. climate sensitive infectious diseases (vector borne illnesses and food and waterborne diarrheal illnesses) 5. food insecurity 6. mental health

North Americans are currently at risk for numerous vector-borne diseases, including what? (6)

1. lyme disease 2. dengue fever 3. West Nile virus disease 4. Rocky Mountain spotted fever 5. plaque 6. tularemia

What are 3 factors shaping climate change beliefs?

1. many factors shape views of climate change 2. economic trends, cultural norms, beliefs of family and friends, and value and political ideology, often exercised through heuristics that bypass evidence 3. media coverage

By mid 21st century, climate change may what? (in terms of food security) (4)

1. redistribute and reduce marine biodiversity in sensitive areas resulting in decreased productivity (high confidence) 2. negatively impact production of grains in tropical and temperate regions if T increase 2 deg (medium confidence) 3. T increases of 4 deg C +, combined with increased food demand, pose large risks to food security globally (high confidence) 4. reduce renewable surface and groundwater in most arid subtropical regions (robust evidence, high agreement)

What are 3 factors in increased heat morbidity?

1. urban heat islands (due to concrete/asphalt) 2. increased urbanization 3. aging population

Transportation sector produces how much of Us greenhouse gases?

1/3

What fraction of US residents believe that climate change is occurring? - what % of those believe humans cause it?

2/3 - 40%

Agriculture, livestock, and forestry make up what % of all green house gas emissions?

25%

What are current health related costs of ozone effects?

6.5 billion dollars

How many cases of lyme disease are reported to the CDC every year?

> 30,000 cases

Where was chikungunya first discovered?

Americas on Caribbean islands in 2013

What is community based food security?

a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice

What is food security?

access by all persons in a household at all times to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle

What is climate change?

any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time - includes major changes in T, precipitation, or wind patterns

What is food use?

appropriate use of food based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care

How is chikungunya transmitted?

by mosquitos

What is the triple threat?

climate change, peak oil, food insecurity

Who are most susceptible to heat waves?

elderly and infants/small children

What are common symptoms of chikungunya?

fever and joint pain

What are some symptoms for Lyme disease?

fever, headache, fatigue, characteristic skin rash (erythema migrans)

What are 3 types of precipitation extremes?

heavy rainfall, flooding, and droughts

Farmers would be expected to use more what if food security is affected?

herbicides and pesticides

What is IPCC?

intergovernmental panel on climate change-position on climate change

What is food insecurity?

limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods

What is the main cause for global warming?

mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

What is hunger?

physiologic personal suffering related to diminished food intake

Increased CO2 by itself can increase what?

production of plant-based allergens

What are 2 common diarrheal diseases? When are they most common?

salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis - more common at high T

What is food availability?

sufficient quantities of food are consistently available

What is food access?

sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet

What is the world scientific consensus?

that the Earth's climate is unequivocally warming, and that it is extremely likely (calc with at least 95% probability) that humans are causing most of it through activities that increase concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases

What is global warming?

the recent and ongoing rise in global average T near Earth's surface - causing climate patterns to change

What is weather?

the state or conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, usually a day or so