Assessing health risks of climate change in New York City: Progress and lessons learned

As part of the CDC's Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative, NYC has been conducting health risk assessments of several priority climate hazards including heat, coastal storms and power outages. The range of health effects described in each assessment burdened New Yorkers during the summer heat waves of 2011 and 2012, and as Superstorm Sandy ravaged the Northeast region in late 2012. Climate-related morbidity and mortality will only be compounded by projected warming temperatures and increased intensity, and potentially frequency, of storms; presenting a clear risk to residents and exposing the need for local health agencies to become “climate ready.” CDC's funding has led to an improved understanding of the risks facing New Yorkers, and has led to the strengthening of current Health Department activities. Results from our health risk assessments and other grant-funded activities are being used to improve syndromic surveillance systems, enhance risk communication strategies for vulnerable New Yorkers, participate in and inform citywide climate adaptation planning efforts, and identify new tools and data needs to improve the Health Department's ability to plan for and respond to climate-related events.