Climate Change: A New Challenge for Public Health
From Gregg Grunenfelder’s article in Northwest Public Health
In recent years, most of the scientific community has validated the climate changes we are experiencing across the globe. Now is the time for public health to prepare and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
In the Pacific Northwest, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington formed to study the effects of climate change on our region. The predictions have serious implications for public health in the Northwest. Direct effects may first be seen in heat-related illnesses and deaths. Warmer, drier summers will also lengthen wildfire seasons and extend the range of lands vulnerable to fires. Climate change is likely to shift the patterns of infectious diseases and to increase air pollution, which has serious implications for human health. And finally, climate change will result in health effects and psychological/social disruption as extreme weather events dislocate residents and stress social and health care systems. Potential economic impacts of climate change will disproportionately affect the poor and disenfranchised populations in our communities.
Our difficult economic times increase the challenge of preparing our communities to adapt to climate change. However, climate change is so important that it calls for a reinvestment in our public health system so that we can minimize its potential health implications. Read the full article.
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Mark your calendars and join us for the Summer Institute for Public Health Practice from August 10–14, 2009.
The Institute provides new and mid-level managers and other public health professionals with practical, case-based training on current issues and trends in public health.
Participants can select from a variety of courses including: emergency preparedness, epidemiology, management, leadership, and program evaluation. National and regional public health leaders will address attendees on relevant cross-cutting issues, further building competencies that are directly related to everyday practice. Check our Web site for details.
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03-17-2009 Facing Ethical Challenges; Dealing with Outcomes: Stories from the Field
04-14-2009 Local Options for Healthy Living: Chronic Disease and Cost Consequences
Recorded Web Conferences Related to Climate Change
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Screening in Public Health Practice
Online Training Modules Related to Climate Change