Climate, Environment, and Public Health in Western North Carolina
Sugg M, Anderson L, Shay E, Tyson JS, Runkle J. 2021. Climate, Environment, and Public Health in Western North Carolina. JIHHS: Journal of the Blue Cross Institute for Health & Human Services. 1:76-85
ABSTRACT: The frequency and severity of extreme weather events are expected to increase in the context of a changing climate. Populations across the globe are vulnerable and already experiencing the health effects of a changing climate. Western North Carolina (WNC) is no exception. The last decade was the warmest ever on record. This past year, 2019, broke historical records in North Carolina, and temperature anomalies in WNC largely drove this pattern. The indirect and direct effects of climate on human health are complicated and modulated by underlying social vulnerabilities that enhance the severity and sensitivity of population exposure to climate hazards. In this paper, we discuss the complex pathways through which climate hazards impact health in WNC and the on-going efforts among the academic and public health community to address these emerging climate-related health threats. Specifically, we highlight the changing patterns in (1) temperature-related disease, (2) vector-borne disease, (3) natural hazards, (4) mental health impacts and the (5) built environment. Lastly, we identify important research needs and partnerships required to motivate effective and meaningful engagement with the public and policymakers around the regional impacts of climate change on human health, potential solutions, and co-benefits of resilience planning in WNC.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Sugg, Maggie; Anderson, Lauren; Shay, Elizabeth; Tyson, Jennifer; Runkle, Jennifer
- Units
- BLRI , CARL , GRSM
- Keywords
- built environment, climate change, mental health, natural hazards, public health, temperature-related disease, vector-borne disease