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CLIMATE CHANGE SPOTLIGHT

    Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate, such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and other weather patterns, that lasts for decades or longer. The world’s climate is showing signs of a shift, becoming warmer, with more precipitation and weather extremes. Potential effects of this climate change are likely to include more variable weather, stronger and longer heat waves, more frequent heavy precipitation events, more frequent and severe droughts, extreme weather events such as flooding and tropical cyclones, rises in sea level, and increased air pollution. Other effects may result from ecosystem shifting and disruption.

    Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cannot predict how these changes will affect society and public health, but CDC is working to address the health issues that may be associated with global climate change. As the nation's public health agency, CDC is using its prevention expertise to address climate change and is preparing for the possibility of health effects related to climate change in the same way it prepares for the possibilities of bioterrorism and pandemic influenza. As part of these efforts, experts are making use of the knowledge and experience gained from previous natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

    CDC is uniquely poised to lead efforts to anticipate, prevent and respond to the broad range of effects on the health of Americans and the nation's public health infrastructure. CDC's expertise and programs in environmental health, infectious disease, and other fields form the foundation of public health efforts in preparedness for climate change.