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Climate Change and Our Health

Our Fight for Healthy Air

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American Lung Association

Mission: To save lives by

improving lung health and

preventing lung disease

Vision: A world free of lung

disease

Active nationally, and in all 50

states.

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State of the Air - 2017

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• Health and medical leaders

are trusted and influential

voices.

• Validate health impacts of

climate change

• Can help shape public

perception and federal policy

outcomes.

Health and Medical Community Must Lead

Lead By Example

Educate

AdvocateInform Policy

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Healthy Air Campaign

What is the campaign?

• Science-based campaign for clean air and climate

protections

• Coalition of health and medical organizations

• Leverage medical experts and personal stories

• National and state-based effort

• Rooted in Lung Association’s historic fight for healthy air

• Launched in 2011

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Integrated Approach: Healthy Air Campaign

Media Advocacy

Coalition Engagement

Decision-Maker Advocacy

Grassroots Rapid Response

Research and Data Collection

Litigation

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Health Impacts of Air Pollution

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Health Effects of Ozone and Particle Pollution

Ozone and particle

pollution can shorten life.

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Someone in Every Family is at Increased Risk from Air Pollution

Vulnerable Populations Include:

• Infants and children

• Older adults

• People with asthma, COPD and other

chronic lung health problems

• People with diabetes and cardiovascular

disease

• Low income communities

• People who work and exercise outdoors

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Climate Change Harms Health

Greenhouse Gases

• Trap heat in the atmosphere

• Co-pollutants directly harm health

Warmer Global Temperatures

• Heat, Drought

• Air Pollution

• Extreme Weather

• Many more

Health Impacts

• Heat related deaths

• Asthma Attacks

• Heart attacks, strokes

• Allergic reactions

• Spread of diseases

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3 Major Ways Climate Change Impacts Air Pollution

• Hot, stagnant air Ozone Pollution (smog)

• Wildfire smoke Particle Pollution (soot)

• Longer allergy seasons & increased allergen

count Worsened allergies symptoms

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Projected Change in Temperature, Ozone, and Ozone-Related Premature Deaths in 2030

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Projected Increases in Very Large Fires

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• Forest fires in Quebec, Canada, during July 2002 resulted in up to a 30-fold increase in airborne fine particle concentrations in Baltimore, Maryland

• Smoke exposure increases respiratory disease hospitalizations and emergency department visits

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Ragweed Pollen

Season is

Lengthening

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How can physicians engage in education and advocacy efforts?

1. Keep Learning

2. Support Public Policy Action

3. Speak Out

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Keep Learning!

• Lancet Countdown’s 2017 Report (released Oct 30) + The

Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change Report

(2015)

• The U.S. Climate and Health Assessment (2015) + the National

Climate Assessment (2014 + upcoming 2018 report)

• The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health’s

“Medical Alert! Climate Change is Harming Our Health” Report

(2017)

• American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” Report (Annual)

• US Climate and Health Alliance’s webpage for the State Policy

Initiative (launched in 2017)

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For More Information….

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Support Public Policy Action

• Participate with a health/medical coalition: the Lung Association convenes

campaigns in some states coalitions to defend healthy air protections and

address climate change– we can connect you!

• Join in-person meetings with decision-makers to share your health

expertise

• It’s ok to focus on a few key impacts that affect your patients most directly

• Sign letters to decision-makers

• Support the development of strong public policy positions of your health

and medical community

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Policy Opportunities at Federal and State Levels

• Federal-Level

• Support EPA funding to reduce air pollution and protect health

• Defend against efforts to weaken Clean Air Act authority, and

block or delay existing protections

• Support implementation & enforcement of the Clean Air Act

• Support comprehensive policy to address climate change

• State-Level

• Reduce carbon pollution from power sector, oil and gas, and

transportation sectors – major sources of emissions

• Support increases in clean renewable energy and efficiency

• Participate in regional efforts to reduce carbon pollution and

other greenhouse gases

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• Climate, Health, and Equity 101: How does climate change

impact health?

• Policy 101: How are policies made? Where does the health

voice come in? Who should I talk to?

• Communicating With Legislators: How do I get a meeting?

What do I say to make sure my message gets across? What is

my message?

• Op-Eds: Templates, examples, and tips for writing and placing

effective op-eds, specifically for professionals like you.

• State Climate Policy Tools: How do I find policies to act on?

“State Policy Initiative” Resources

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Speak Out: Your Voice Matters

What is Media Advocacy? It’s is a way to influence

decision-makers through the media outlets that matter

to them.

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• Media interview

• Examples: Print/TV/radio

• Earned Media

• Examples: Authoring an opinion piece or letter to the

editor

• Speaking event

• Examples: Congressional hearing or briefing

• Reporter briefing

• Social Media

Getting the Message Out: Tactics & Tools

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• Lancet Countdown’s 2017 Report (released Oct 30) + The

Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change Report

(2015)

• The U.S. Climate and Health Assessment (2015) + the National

Climate Assessment (2014 + upcoming 2018 report)

• The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health’s

“Medical Alert! Climate Change is Harming Our Health” Report

(2017)

• American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” Report (Annual)

• US Climate and Health Alliance’s webpage for the State Policy

Initiative (launched in 2017)

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• Focus on specific health impacts that will resonate with your

community

• Share patient stories, i.e., a patient with asthma who struggles on

high ozone days, or someone affected by wildfires or extreme

weather

• Where possible and appropriate, make the climate connection

explicit

• Statistics can be powerful, but should be kept limited.

• Call for action to protect public health and the health of your

patients

Messaging Tips

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• Sign “A Health Professionals’ Declaration

on Climate Change”

What Can You Do Right Now?

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Questions?

• Diana Van Vleet, Director of Media Advocacy, Healthy Air

Campaign

• Diana.VanVleet@Lung.org; 202.715.1863