The U.S. Global Change Research Program calls climate change a “significant threat to the health of the American people.” Changing climate conditions, including rising temperatures, precipitation changes, and changes in the intensity and frequency of the most intense storms, and rising sea levels will increasingly result in direct impacts to population health and healthcare systems.  These conditions will also indirectly affect health because of scarcity and quality of water and food, changes in air quality, interactions with the built and natural environments, increases in vector borne disease, and changes in community and social cohesion. Climate change exacerbates the severity and frequency of health impacts already affected by climate or weather factors, while also creating health impacts and threats in locations where they have not previously occurred.  In partnership with the Rutgers Climate Institute and as part of its co-facilitation of the New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance, EAC joined in the development of a Climate and Health Profile Report for New Jersey.  Following guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of its Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework, the New Jersey Climate and Health Profile Report, outlines anticipated direct and indirect impacts to the health and well-being of New Jerseyans as a result of changing climate conditions as projected by the latest climate science.

Photo Credit: New York Times