Climate Change & Energy Project

Programs & Initiatives

Climate Change, Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, and Health Impacts (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/11463/11463.pdf)   (378 KB)

Author:
Kristie L. Ebi
ESS, LLC

The world’s climate scientists have reached consensus that climate change is occurring around the world and at a more rapid pace than predicted even 10 years ago, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, 2007 (http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm) . With these changes, the planet is expected to warm by 2 F to 11 F in the coming decades, oceans are expected to become more acidic, and extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and hurricanes, are expected to become more frequent, severe and of longer duration.

Climate change is expected to have both direct and indirect impacts on human health. As societies work to address climate change, a range of new energy strategies will likely be developed and deployed, and understanding the health impacts of new energy sources must be a priority. At the same time, the scientific community must be cognizant that global change, which includes issues of land use, agricultural practices, mega-cities and changing demographics are the backdrop upon which the climate change and human health linkages will play out.

The goals of the NIEHS Climate Change and Energy Project are to:

• Provide information on human health research related to climate change and to the use of a range of energy sources
• Raise awareness and create new partnerships to advance key areas of health research and knowledge development
• Serve as an authoritative source of information on climate change, energy and health, and to assist scientists, health professionals and others who wish to engage in this arena

To find out more about specific areas of research, such as Climate Change and Children's Health, New Fuels and Health Implications, and Climate Change and New Exposures to Chemicals, please see:

• Articles & Reports (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/programs/climatechange/articles.cfm)
• Presentations & Outreach (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/programs/climatechange/presentations.cfm)
• Upcoming Meetings & Events (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/programs/climatechange/meetings.cfm)

Scientific & Support Staff

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