Oral

In its 2007 report, the IPCC stated that the warming of the global climate system in unequivocal and that human impact is evident in this process. The only questions that remain at this point are: what are the impacts of climate change that we can expect to see, what can we do to minimize the damage that climate change will cause, and what can we do to decelerate the pace of global climate change? This session is intended to answer these questions and to provide an overview of the various roles that Public Health can play in responding to global climate change. The presentation will include a discussion of expected climate change trends and the associated expected impacts. There will be a focus on the impacts that are expected to affect public health, with a spotlight on Southern California. Dr. Fielding will then present potential mitigation and adaptation roles that Public Health can play to successfully adapt to a new global climate scenario and to help decelerate the pace of climate change.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe expected climate change trends and their associated expected impacts. 2. List several of the expected public health impacts of global climate change. 3. Describe potential mitigation and adaptation roles for Public Health. 4. List several of the health co-benefits associated with climate change mitigation efforts.