Changing Climate and Changing Health Risks

Discussion led by Keith Benson (Penn State) and Agnus Fleming (Norfolk Dept. of Public Health)

1. Who needs to know what?-- i.e., what research questions are important for stakeholders?

• People and policy makers are not thinking about health issues as they relate to global climate change.
• Questions:
  A. Changes in nutrients in the bay and health risks
  B. Changes in vectors and climate change
  C. Look at both sides of the health issue
  D. Examine direct effects, such as changes in incidences, but also look at indirect effects such as mosquito control and fogging - the residual effect from pesticide spraying.
  E. What about unknown diseases or unpredicted diseases?

• Health has the potential to be a "gamebreaker" for policy; politically powerful and will be closely scrutinized.

• Need to look closely at the climate scenarios and link them with the health scenarios; need a clearly established "what-if" link. Also include the interrelationships.

• Focus on just a few health risks.
  Develop a model to examine health risks and climate change.

• Health risks we plan to investigate: heat, extreme weather events, cryptosporidium, hanta virus, cholera, lyme disease, pfeisteria.

• Others?
  - Asthma or some health risk related to air quality is a "hot" topic and in the public's eye.
  - Mosquito-borne health risk.
  - pfeisteria was not a strong concern; perhaps pfeisteria-like organisms or algae blooms.

• Just do 6: heat or extreme weather; lyme disease, cryptosporidium, hanta, a mosquito and an air quality risk.

2.  What do stakeholders need to develop an action plan?

• Need to identify vulnerable populations
• Clear, succinct definition of the problem
• Strategies for dealing with the problem
• Ways to get information to decision-makers/appropriate people.

• Develop some "no regrets" recommendations regardless of climate change. (E.g., energy conservation).

• There will be winners and losers. Stakeholders need to know the options, how to access information and where to get assistance formulating action plans.

3.  Who (what groups/organizations) needs to be involved?

• Policy makers (elected officials). Starting at the local level and work up., with a series of briefings. Link with air quality, pollution and respiratory problems. Use the concept "how global climate change could impact the quality of life."
• Providers - especially since there tends to be an under diagnosis of certain health risks.
• Health delivery systems
• Outreach programs and secondary information sources
• Those with a financial interest - pharmaceutical, medical insurers, etc..
• General public.

4.  What format should information be distributed in?

• Pamphlets
• Videos
• Public service announcements
• Coloring books with the back page for parents
• Special media events to educate the media
• Media - print, radio and TV.
• Training programs
• Conferences
• Speaker bureaus

- Avoid "chicken little" syndrome with a credible, consistent, message.

- Health should be interwoven with every component of the MARA project, as so compelling that it can help convey the message.

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