Washington, D.C., April 25, 2011 – The American Public Health Association and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released a new practical guidebook
that helps public health practitioners address climate change, one of the most
serious health threats facing our nation.
The guidebook, Climate Change: Mastering the Public Health
Role, is a translation of a six-part webinar series hosted by APHA and CDC in
2009-2010 that featured leading climate and health experts as well as federal
and state leaders on topics ranging from climate science, health risk
communication and adaptation strategies.
“There is mounting
evidence that climate change is responsible for an increasing number of sustained
health problems, including asthma and diarrheal disease, and it could cause
heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer. As the science continues to grow, public
health practitioners are facing new challenges to address the issue and educate
the public and policy-makers about these risks,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive
director of APHA. “We are pleased to
have collaborated with CDC on this invaluable resource.”
“Public health
professionals play a pivotal role in building healthy communities and limiting
the health impact of climate change,” said George Luber, PhD, associate
director for global climate change at CDC. “This new guidebook is an essential tool
that will help public health practitioners respond to and prepare for current
and future climate-related health risks and ultimately keep communities safe.”
The guidebook offers highlights
from the webinar series and insights from leading health experts on how to bridge
the gap between the science of climate change and the public health response. Key
features outlined in the guidebook include:
- the international and domestic human health
impacts on climate change;
- a look at how local public health departments
are taking measures to address climate change;
- the increasing challenges the public health
community faces to communicate the health threat of climate change;
- recommendations on strategies to ensure that effects
of climate change are mitigated for the elderly, sick and other vulnerable
populations; and
- insights from federal agencies on the future
of climate change and how public health practitioners have a key role in helping
to adapt and prepare for climate change-related impacts
The
guidebook is available at www.apha-environment.org
To learn about APHA’s work
on the public health implications of climate change, listen to archived webinars
highlighted in this guidebook, and learn about other environmental
public health topics, visit www.apha-environment.org