About
ASTHO is helping states prepare for the possibility of health effects related to climate change in the same way they prepare for the possibilities of bioterrorism and natural disasters. Recent programs have looked at possible health risks from increased heat, changes in vector-borne disease patterns, and transmission of waterborne diseases.
Climate Change Collaborative
The ASTHO Climate Change Collaborative (CCC) is comprised of representatives from varied disciplines and plays a role in improving the ability of state and territorial health agencies (STHAs) to prepare for, mitigate and react to the effects of climate change. The CCC’s mission is to support and build the capacity of STHAs to tackle the public health challenges presented by climate change. The purpose of the CCC is:
- To develop strategies and recommendations to enable STHAs to attain the capacity to confront the public health challenges associated with climate change.
- To research, compile, develop, enhance, critique and disseminate promising practices, success stories, tools and information to support policy and programs in STHAs as they relate to climate change.
- To increase the cohesion and coordination of the different aspects and disciplines within STHAs to enable a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackling climate change.
- To provide technical assistance to STHAs related to climate change.
Building Climate Change Capacity
Global Warming: Why Public Health Professionals Care, and Why You Should Too
Dr. Edward Maibach (Director for the Center for Climate Change Communications at George Mason University) has created a vivid slide deck to assist presenters commute to the public why they should care about Climate Change. This also includes a brief video illustrating Global Warming from 1889 to 2007.
Taking the Pulse of a Changing Nation: Findings from a Survey on Climate Change and State/Territorial Health Agencies
ASTHO conducted a comprehensive needs assessment designed to analyze the current ability of state and territorial health agencies to address climate change as a public health issue. Sent to the state health officials of all 57 states, the needs assessment addresses workforce capacity, current practices, and resource needs in this arena. State and territorial health agency staff may tailor this Microsoft PowerPoint presentation for training purposes in an effort to educate interested stakeholders about the public health consequences of climate change.
Climate Change: A Serious Threat to Public Health
This brief fact sheet summarizes the highlights of ASTHO’s comprehensive needs assessment on climate change. The fact sheet is intended for use by policymakers, community leaders and other key stakeholders.
Workforce Resources For Climate Change Programs
In difficult economic times, it can be difficult to find the needed workforce capacity to address climate change as a public health issue. Fortunately, there are a few programs that could potentially fill this gap on a temporary basis. This one page primer contains important details about the Public Health Prevention Service, the Epidemic Intelligence Service, and CSTE Fellows.
Webinars
Looking Ahead: Advancing the Public Health Response to Climate Change
June 30, 2010 Dr. George Luber (Associate Director for Global Climate Change at NCEH, CDC), Dr. Howard Koh (Assistant Secretary for Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), and Dr. Gina McCarthy (Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) discuss the policy outlook and public health perspective of climate change, the continuing role for the public health community in confronting the challenges of climate change, and what the future may hold.
An Eye Toward Public Health Adaptation Strategy
April 13, 2010 Dr. George Luber (Associate Director for Global Climate Change at NCEH, CDC), Dr. Kristie L. Ebi (Executive Director, Technical Support Unit for Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and Dr. Kim Knowlton (Senior Scientist, Health & Environment Program Natural Resources Defense Council) discuss the the impact of climate change on human health, the role public health does and should play in confronting climate change, the challenges of communicating such risks to the public, and much more.
The Public Health Role in Climate Change Communication and Effective Messaging Strategy
March 11, 2010 Dr. George Luber (Associate Director for Global Climate Change at NCEH, CDC), Dr. Edward Maibach (Director for the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University) discussed the challenges related to communicating about climate change and how public health professionals can be effective messengers.
The Public Health Role in State and Local Climate Change Action Plans
January 25, 2010 Dr. George Luber (Associate Director for Global Climate Change at NCEH, CDC), Dr. Linda Rudolph (Deputy Director for the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the California Department of Public Health), and Dr. Kevin Sherin (Director at Orange County, Florida Health Department) discuss the science of climate change and health, delving into the role of public health in state and local climate action plans.
A Look at the U.S. Regional Impacts of Climate Change on Health
December 8, 2009 Dr. Jonathan Patz (Professor and Director of Global Environmental Health at the University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Dr. Patrick Kinney (Associate Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University) discussed the regional impacts of climate change on public health.
An Overview of Climate Change
October 13, 2009 Dr. David Easterling (Chief Scientific Services Division, NOAA) and Dr. John Balbus (Chief Health Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund) discussed climate change science and its impact on human health.
Climate Change and Water
April 29, 2008 Featured presentations included: Climate Change and the Global Water Cycle: Recent Regional Experiences - Dr. Soroosh Sorooshian (Director, Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, Civil and Environmental Engineering-UC-Irvine)
The Domestic Public Health Impact of Climate Change: U.S. Perspective on Waterborne Disease Transmission
April 29, 2008 Dr. Michael Beach (Associate Director for Healthy Water, CDC's National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases).
Climate Change and Heat Stress
Mar 17, 2008 Dr. George Luber (Acting Associate Director for Global Climate Change, CDC's National Center for Environmental Health) and Dr. Mike McGeehin (Director, CDC's Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, CDC's National Center for Environmental Health) discussed this important public health topic.
Climate Change and Vector-Borne/Zoonotic Diseases
January 2008 Dr. Kenneth Gage, Division of Vector-Borne Infections Diseases, CDC's National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases.
Climate Change and Public Health
January 2008 Dr. Ali S. Kahn, Assistant Surgeon General and Deputy Director, CDC's National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases.
Publications and Other Resources
State and Local Climate and Energy Program (EPA)
Center for Health and the Global Environment (Harvard Medical School)
Climate Change and Human Health (WHO)
Climate Change and Public Health (CDC)
Congressional Testimony Before the United States Environmental Public Works Committee by Susan Cooper, MSN, RN (Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health)
Excessive Heat Events Guidebook (EPA)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Office of Water (EPA)
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Protecting Yourself from Arizona's Heat (Arizona Department of Health Services)
U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change - Sector: Human Health
Staff
Surili Sutaria, MS, Senior Analyst, Environmental Health