April 15, 2008
An aerial view of the village of Kasigluk on the YK Delta.
What world will we leave for our children and our children's children?
by Trish Naughton, PHN
Monday, April 7th was World Health Day 2008. Its theme: "Protecting Health from Climate Change." Our climate is changing. Our world is changing. We know this in Alaska. Our neighbors in places like Newtok know this well.
Climate change describes the changes in Earth's global and regional atmosphere over time. The rise in the Earth's average surface temperature, or "global warming," is likely caused by a combination of natural processes and activities. The increase in global warming is generally thought to be a result of increased manmade greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is overwhelming evidence that humans are affecting the global climate. Impacts of climate on human health are not and will not be evenly distributed around the world. Developing country populations, particularly on small islands, in very dry zones, in high mountain areas, and in densely populated coastal areas, are considered to be particularly vulnerable.
Although much of the health risk is avoidable through existing health programs, climate change can cause death and disease through:
- Natural disasters, such as heat waves, floods, and droughts.
- Increase of diseases that are sensitive to changing temperatures and precipitation.
Ten facts from WHO:
1. Over the last 50 years, the burning of fossil fuels and other activities has released enough carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to affect the global climate. Carbon dioxide concentration has increased by more than 30 percent since pre-industrial times. Heat-trapped lower atmosphere can lead to changes that bring health risks ranging from changing patterns of infectious diseases to even deaths due to extreme high temperatures
2. Weather extremes such as heavy rains, floods, and disasters like Hurricane Katrina endanger health and property. Approximately 600,000 deaths occurred worldwide as a result of weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s. Nearly 95 percent of these occurred in developing countries.
3. Intense short-term fluctuations in temperature can cause heat stress or extreme cold and lead to increased death rates from heart and respiratory diseases. Unusually high temperatures in Western Europe in summer of 2003 were associated with nearly 70,000 more deaths than during similar periods in previous years.
4. Increasing global temperatures affect levels and seasonal patterns of air-borne particles, such as plant pollen, which can trigger asthma. Asthma deaths are expected to increase by almost 20 percent in the next 10 years if urgent actions to curb climate change are not taken.
5. Rising sea levels increase the risk of coastal flooding. More than half of the world's population now lives within 27 miles of shorelines. Floods can directly cause injury and death, and increase risks of infection from water and vector-borne diseases.
6. More variable rainfall patterns may compromise fresh water supply. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people.
7. Water scarcity encourages people to transport water long distances and store supplies in their homes. This can increase the risk of household water contamination, causing illnesses.
8. Climatic conditions affect diseases transmitted through water, and via vectors such as mosquitoes. Climate-sensitive diseases are among the largest global killers.
9. Malnutrition causes millions of deaths each year. Increasing temperatures and more variable rainfalls are expected to reduce crop yields in many tropical developing regions, where food security is already a problem.
10. Steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or lessen the health impacts of climate change could have positive health effects. For example, promoting the safe use of shared transportation and active movement - such as biking or walking as alternatives to using private vehicles - could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve public health. 1
What might this mean for Alaska
By report, 2005 was the warmest year on record, and global warming continues to touch Alaskans in a number of ways. These include melting polar ice, the retreat of glaciers, increasing storm intensity, wildfires, coastal flooding, droughts, crop failures, loss of habitat and threatened plant and animal species.
Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and flooding of coastal communities. Warming of oceans and melting of land-based ice increases the volume of ocean water. Loss of sea-ice cover changes habitat for arctic species and leaves coastal communities more exposed to larger waves generated by severe storms.
Thawing permafrost, increased storm severity, and related infrastructure damage to roads, utility infrastructure, pipelines and buildings. Extremes in weather patterns, precipitation and rising sea levels will affect safe water sources in villages, and contributes to increased erosion along Alaska coasts and rivers and undermines Alaska boreal forests.
Loss of the subsistence way of life as animal habitat and migration patterns shift and as hunting and fishing become more dangerous with changing sea and river ice. Warming streams and increased silt from melting glaciers affect fish habitat. Boreal forests advance northward and to higher elevations, displacing tundra. Invasive species compete with native vegetation. Humans, animals and plants may be exposed to new infectious diseases as habitat changes.
Forest fires and insect infestations increasing in frequency and intensity. In the past decade, Alaska has witnessed a record loss of forests to fires and spruce bark beetles.
Some ways we can help:
At the office:
To save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at work, always activate the power management features on computers and monitors.
Unplug laptop power cords when not in use.
Turn off equipment and lights at the end of the day. Consider using a power strip that can be turned off when you're done using your computers, printers, wireless routers and other electronics. 3
At home:
Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.
When buying new products, such as appliances, look for ENERGY STAR qualified products in more than 50 product categories, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.
Heat and cool smartly. Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.
For more information, and for numerous additional links to resources:
http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/cc-ak.htm
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/index.html
1 World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/index.html
2 "Alaska Climate Change Strategy," http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/cc-ak.htm
3 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/home.html
4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/office.html