Indicators: Effectively Communicating Climate Change and Environmental Health

EPA has compiled a set of key indicators that are related to the causes and effects of climate change into a report entitled: Climate Change Indicators in the United States.  EPA's indicators are based on peer-reviewed data from various government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations. EPA selects these indicators based on the quality of the data and other standardized criteria.  In addition to presenting climate change observations and trends in the United States, and globally for context, this report highlights the far-reaching significance of these changes and their possible consequences for people, the environment, and society. 

Of particular interest to EPA, and the focus of this presentation, are highlighting the importance and continued need of climate change indicators related to human health and society to meet outreach and policy-related objectives.  Climate-related health indicators are critical not only in tracking and measuring health impacts of climate change but also, more importantly, in identifying areas where the protection of public health is needed most.  To ensure that response measures are effective and adverse health effects are avoided, it is important for climate-related health indicators to be clear, measureable, timely, and closely linked to changes in climate. 

While some climate and health indicators exist, EPA plans to explore opportunities to work with climate and health experts to help further develop indicators that communicate the effects of climate change on health and society more broadly.  For example, EPA is working with the Interagency Crosscutting Group on Climate Change and Human Health of the U.S. Global Research Program (USGCRP) to develop a Special Report on the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States.  In support of this effort, EPA and the report’s contribute partners seek to leverage current efforts across multiple agencies to identify and develop indicators related to health.