The Health Impacts of Climate Change 2016 Health Summary
HUMAN HEALTHTHE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ONIN THE UNITED STATESA Scientific AssessmentU.S. Global Change Research ProgramEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYU.S. Global Change Research ProgramTHE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATESA Scientific AssessmentClimate change threatens human health and well-being in the United States. The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Climate and Health Assessment has been developed to enhance understanding and inform decisions about this growing threat. This scientific assessment, called for under the President’s Climate Action Plan, is a major report of the sustained National Climate Assessment (NCA) process. The report responds to the 1990 Congressional mandate to assist the Nation in understanding, assessing, predicting, and responding to human-induced and natural processes of global change. The agencies of the USGCRP identified human health impacts as a high-priority topic for scientific assessment.The purpose of this assessment is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based, and, where possible, quantitative estimation of observed and projected climate change related health impacts in the United States. The USGCRP Climate and Health Assessment has been developed to inform public health officials, urban and disaster response planners, decision makers, and other stakeholders within and outside of government who are interested in better understanding the risks climate change presents to human health.Recommended Citation: Crimmins, A., J. Balbus, J. L. Gamble, C.B. Beard, J.E. Bell, D. Dodgen, R.J. Eisen, N. Fann, M. Hawkins,S.C. Herring, L. Jantarasami, D. M. Mills, S. Saha, M. C. Sarofim, J. Trtanj, and L. Ziska, 2016: Executive Summary. The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, 24 pp. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.7930/J00P0WXSLead AuthorsAllison CrimminsU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyJohn BalbusNational Institutes of HealthJanet L. GambleU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCharles B. BeardCenters for Disease Control and PreventionJesse E. BellCooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites–North CarolinaDaniel DodgenU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and ResponseRebecca J. EisenCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNeal FannU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOn the web: health2016.globalchange.govPhoto Credits Cover:Manhattan skyline: © iStockPhoto.com/stockelementsFarmer: © Masterfile/CorbisGirl getting checkup: © Rob Lewine/Tetra Images/Corbis Michelle HawkinsNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationStephanie C. HerringNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLesley JantarasamiU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyDavid M. MillsAbt AssociatesShubhayu SahaCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMarcus C. SarofimU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyJuli TrtanjNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLewis ZiskaU.S. Department of Agriculture
Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United StatesEXECUTIVE SUMMARY3To read the full report, go to: health2016.globalchange.gov© Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis