Climate Changes and Environmental

Emergency Medicine
Tareg Bey, MD, FAAEM, FACMT, DEAA
Professor of Emergency Medicine
University of California Irvine
UCI Medical Center

Climate Changes and Environmental EM

Tareg Bey, MD, FAAEM, FACMT,DEAA
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of California Irvine
Orange, CA

Prehospital Disaster Medicine

2008;23(2):101-102
Tareg Bey, MD; Ernst U. von Weizscker, PhD;
Kristi L. Koenig, MD
Global Warming: Polar Bears and People
Implications for Public Health
Preparedness and Disaster Medicine: A
Call to Action

Objectives

Global Warming
Disasters
Recent developments
Effects on Human Mankind

Gobal Warming and Greenhouse

Gases: A Hot Topic

Highly controversial topic among

politicians, economic leaders,
scientists and the general public

http://meteora.ucsd.edu/~jnorris/sio117/ipcc_figs/IPCC_FAQ1.3small.bmp

Facts

Earth atmosphere temperature is rising

Water temperature is rising
Climate change
Key greenhouse gas producers: energy,
transportation and food production

The World Meteorological Organization

(WMO) and the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) established the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) in 1988

Intergovenmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC)

http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/wg1-report.html

Larsen Ice B Shelf Break in 2002

3250 km2 Size of Luxemburg

Difference between
Weather and Climate
Controversy

but Climate influences Weather

Temperature by 2100 up 5.8 oC

Changes in Mean Climatic Conditions

Temperature
Precipitation
Humidity
Wind Pattern

Disaster - Definition

Management: Resources and needs

mismatch - Surge capacity
Impact of hazards that negatively affect
society and/or environment
Risks, hazards and vulnerability (HxV)

Disasters with a Link to

Weather and Climate

Global Warming, glacial meltdown,

drinking water shortage, famine
Sea-level rise, desertification,
deforestation
Increase of vector-born diseases
Gulf stream shutdown
Overfishing, acidification of oceans (CO2
greenhouse gases)

Social and Economic Impacts of

Climate Change

Health impacts related to stresses on

communities
Loss of income and productivity
Diminished quality of life
Social disruption
Community displacement
Climate refugees and immigration health
issues (Malaria, TB, nutrition etc)
Linda Rudolph, MD (CDPH)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988

More damage because of storm and other weather related

calamities to building, transport, energy, communication and
water services
Greater frequency and severity of extreme weather events:
Heatwaves, fires floods, landslides, droughts and storm surges
will become significantly more frequent
Blackouts due to peak energy demand for air conditioners will
become common in spite the fact that there will be less energy
use for winter heating
Coastal flooding: Projected global warming this century is likely to
trigger serious consequences for humanity and other life forms,
including a rise in sea levels of between 18 and 59 cm which will
endanger coastal areas and small islands

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988

Severe water shortages

Reduced agricultural production due to drought and fire

Risk for peace and security due to increased possibilities of

wars for claims for water, land and other resources

Increase in refugees from the effects of climate change

Increase in mosquito, food and water-borne diseases

Loss of biodiversity

Global Warming: Threats

Humans

Environment

Social

Economic

Famine

Hunger, malnutrition, starvation

Complex humanitarian emergencies
World Food Programme (UN)

Bangladesh: Cyclones, Flooding

Deforestation, Flooding
Example Bangladesh

Infectious Diseases Spread

after Weather

Malaria
Dengue fever (South America)
Tick-born encephalitis increase in
Sweden after warmer winters
West Nile in the US

Fishery and Climate Change

Headlines: Global Warming Threatens ColdWater Fish As temperatures rise, salmon

and trout are likely to disappear from
streams across the United States -- unless
global warming pollution is reduced.
The Natural Resources Defense Council

Countermeasures against Global

Warming and Climate Change

Reduction of CO2 production and carbon

footprint --- Public transportation vs individual
traffic Energy management/conservation
Early warning systems and forecasting
Change in the food and meat production
Crop: variety, genetic modification, planning,
irrigation modification
Vector control

Global Warming, Climate

Change and Disaster

Climate change can viewed as challenge and

chance for mankind
Quadrupling energy efficiency
Introduce carbon emission rights for everyone
equal and just
Exploitation of existing carbon-free technologies
Raising awareness in the public and take a more
scientific approach not ideological approachRadical change in philosophies and politics
Emphasis on equality and justice