Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Paul R. Epstein, MD, MPH, Associate Director, Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02215, 617-384-8530, paul_epstein@hms.harvard.edu

Climate change has multiple direct and indirect consequences for human health. Heat waves have taken tens of thousands of lives, and led to extensive wildfires and widespread crop failures. Infectious diseases are spreading due to a greater range of disease vectors. Deep ocean warming is accelerating the hydrological cycle and associated extreme weather events, which can contribute to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Predator/prey relationships have been destabilized. Ocean warming and other factors are contributing to algal blooms that can cause shellfish poisoning. Excess carbon dioxide also has direct adverse consequences for organisms. This presentation will describe these and other impacts of climate change and what public health workers can do to address these problems.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to

• Describe the major impacts of climate instability on public health.
• Describe major approaches to minimizing these impacts and addressing climate change.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation