Online Program

293218
Climate change and public health policy implications of Sandy


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 10:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.

Kim Knowlton, DrPH, Science Center/Environmental Health Science Dept., Natural Resources Defense Council/Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health., New York, NY
Without preparedness policies that reflect the lessons of Sandy and a changing climate, the health of US coastal residents and communities will continue to be threatened by rising sea levels and worsening storm surges. The tools that we use to plan for storm flooding, including hazard mitigation planning and floodplain maps, need to take climate change into account. Policy gaps are hampering preparations for the kinds of events we can expect under a changing climate. By creating actionable, up-to-date preparedness policies at the federal, state, and local levels, we stand to save lives, save dollars, and create healthier, more secure communities.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
List 3 environmental health issues that emerged after Hurricane Sandy. Describe one way that including climate change in hazard planning policy can address gaps in storm preparedness.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a health scientist who conducts research and publishes on the connections between climate change and its effects on public health, and policies to improve climate-health preparedness, including strategies since Hurricane Sandy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.