Earth Day = Health Day
8:00 p.m.
Climate Change, Health, and the Built Environment in Alexandria
A stable climate is fundamental to human health. Climate change resulting from our continued emissions of greenhouse gases is placing substantial health risks and economic costs onto future generations.
Reducing these impacts requires cutting our greenhouse gas emissions 7-8% every year, in order to cut emissions roughly in half by 2030. In Alexandria, over half of our greenhouse gas emissions result from energy use in residential and commercial buildings. Limiting these emissions now is both possible, affordable, and necessary to protect our families and our environment.
Molly Ferguson for STAT
As the effects of climate change play out worldwide, pediatricians see the evidence in their offices.
There are the children with asthma who experience more frequent attacks as a result of excess heat and longer allergy seasons. And then there are kids who have missed vaccinations or other routine care because more frequent hurricanes or other natural disasters have displaced their families.
Now a new network of pediatricians nationwide is working on a grassroots effort to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on children’s health. Pediatricians participating in the all-volunteer initiative, known as American Academy of Pediatrics’ Chapter Climate Advocates Program, told STAT that the impact is clear, and will become more serious.