Climate change is projected to cause around 250,000 additional deaths each year between 2030 and 2050 due to various health issues like malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. This will also result in direct health costs ranging from $2 billion to $4 billion annually by 2030. Health professionals have a crucial role to play in reducing these numbers by educating patients and addressing the adverse health effects of climate change-related challenges like extreme heat, floods, respiratory problems, premature births, and mental health issues.
During a live discussion, experts will delve into practical strategies for mitigation and adaptation, emphasizing how collective advocacy can drive policy change for a healthier and more resilient future. The panel will feature Jeremy Faust, MD as the moderator, Lisa Patel, MD, MESc as the executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, and Elizabeth A. Cerceo, MD as an academic hospitalist responsible for Health and Public Policy for the American College of Physicians in the New Jersey chapter. To join the discussion, follow @MedPage on Instagram. The event is set to take place on Monday, April 22 at 12:30 PM ET, and viewers are encouraged to submit their questions beforehand through comments.
The articles related to the discussion highlight the urgent need for action in addressing climate change to protect human health. Topics range from standing up to big oil, advocating for farmworkers’ health, the impact of pathogens, to the importance of teaching climate change in medical schools and the need for ICD codes for climate-linked health outcomes. The Lancet report emphasizes the importance of focusing on health to combat climate change, suggesting that clinicians have an essential role to play in driving these initiatives forward. Gillian Booth, the Social Media Manager for MedPage Today, based in Philadelphia, provides contact information for social media collaborations with MedPage Today.