Oral

The depletion of resources fundamental to human life is shaping the health of entire populations, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Clean, accessible water is becoming increasingly scarce; hunger and food insecurity are on the rise world wide; and a changing climate driven by fossil fuel dependency poses myriad threats to human survival. While none of these phenomena are new, their convergence and the resulting intensification present challenges more complex than any we have seen before. Addressing them requires immediate and prolonged action on many fronts. This session features experts on three separate but interrelated resource issues: the global right to water; health impacts of peak petroleum; and food security in the global context. It will be moderated by Dr. Robert Lawrence, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

Session Objectives: 1. List some of the major causes of depletion of water, food and energy resources and the major barriers to access to these resources, particularly by disadvantaged populations. 2. Analyze how the interactions between these major resource crises affect public health. 3. Discuss key policy and programmatic efforts to improve access to and secure the sustainability of these resources using a public health approach.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)