271980 San Francisco's climate and health program: Progress and lessons learned

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Cynthia Comerford Scully, Masters in Resource Management and Environmental Planning , Environmental Health Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
While discussion of climate change is often focused on impacts on the physical environment and non-human species, climate change is already having profound and diverse effects on human health. One significant health impact anticipated to increase as a result of climate change is temperature related deaths and diseases. Extreme heat events are already the number one cause of weather-related fatalities in the US, yet heat related illness is largely preventable. Despite its location in a temperate climate, climate change models project that heat waves will increase in frequency and severity in San Francisco. San Francisco is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat events because of the limited human physiologic and technologic adaptations. The San Francisco Department of Public Health developed an environmental health assessment methodology to map community determinants of heat vulnerability, intra-urban land surface temperatures and attributes of the built environment to assess the spatial distribution of determinants of extreme heat and associated air quality impact vulnerability in San Francisco.

This presentation will discuss the methods used to create the environmental health vulnerability assessment methodology and its application in informing the City's heat wave disaster response plan. The assessment methods will demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to understanding climate vulnerability, so interventions can be aimed at advancing urban health and social and environmental justice. This study is sponsored by the CDC's Climate-Ready States & Cities Initiative which seeks to develop public health capacity and adaptations to reduce human health effects of climate change.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe environmental health vulnerability assessment methodology and the application for local policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have comprehensive experience planning and developing public health programs and providing technical assistance to incorporate public health considerations into federal, state and local planning decisions. I am current the principle and director of a CDC funding climate change project to conduct comprehensive needs assessments, gap analyses; and create strategic plans to address the human health consequences of climate change.
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.