Transcript Environmental Health Perspectives

UNIT 2: CLIMATE
CHANGE: IMPACTS ON
CROP PRODUCTION &
HUMAN HEALTH
Tina Hoover, MPH, RD , LD
Nanna Cross, PhD, RD, LDN
What impact does weather
have on
 1. Food availability and choice?
 2. Nutrition and health of affected
populations?
Food for Thought
According to Siikamaki, (2006) “Agriculture is frequently
discussed in the context of climate change: not only is
agriculture vulnerable to climate change, it is also part of the
problem and its potential solutions.”
-Siikamaki, Juha. (2006).
Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture. Examining the Connections.
Environment, pg(s). 36-49.
Ebi, K.L. et. al. (2006). Environmental
Health Perspectives. 114:1318-1324.
CLIMATE CHANGE & HUMAN
HEALTH IMPACTS IN THE
UNITED STATES
What are the current
environmental stresses and
issues that form the backdrop
for potential additional
impacts of climate variability
and change?
Definitions
 Climate
 Climate variability
 Climate change
 Adaptation
 Adaptive Capacity
Define Climate
 Average state of atmosphere and
underlying land or water in a
particular region over a specific time
period
Define climate variability
 Variation around the mean climate
 Seasonal variations
 Irregular events –-El Nino
Define climate change
 Change occurs over decades or longer
 Occurs as result of natural variability
within climate systems
 Caused by human factors
Define Adaptation
 Strategies, policies and measures
undertaken to reduce potential
adverse health effects
Define Adaptive Capacity
 General ability of institutions,
systems, and individuals to:
 adjust to potential damages
 take advantage of opportunities
 cope with the consequences
Health Outcome Categories
Temperature related morbidity &
mortality
Extreme weather events
Air pollution
Water & food borne diseases
Vector and rodent-borne diseases
Impact of climate change on human
health
 Which three groups of individuals are
most vulnerable to adverse impacts of
changing climate?
Temperature related Morbidity &
Mortality
Which geographic region is at highest
risk?
Which socioeconomic factors increase the
risk?
Extreme Weather Events
 Give six examples of extreme weather
events?
 Give examples of physical and mental
health outcomes in response to extreme
weather?
Air Pollution
Give three examples of air pollution as a result
of climate change and variability
Water & Food-Borne Diseases
Excessive precipitation
may exceed capacity for treating waste water
and sewage (sewage overflow)
Vector & Rodent-Borne Disease
 Mosquito borne illness (West Nile virus)
 Ticks – Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme
Disease
 Rodents - hantavirus
Does the US have the
capacity to adapt to
extremes in weather to
prevent negative health
outcomes?
How May Ecological Changes
Affect Agriculture/Food
Production?
 Heat Stress w/ rising temps– crops, livestock
 Increased pests, disease, weeds
 Some crops more sensitive to rising temps
(tomatoes– e.g.)
 Altered Food Webs (e.g. polluted waters- marine
food webs)
 Drought/Flooding: (extreme weather events)
 Soil moisture/erosion, evaporation
 Water pollution (i.e. agricultural run-off)
 Pollution levels (soil & H20)
 Increased pests, disease, weeds
 Altered Food Webs (e.g. polluted waters- marine
food webs)
Short-Term Effects of Climate Change
on Agriculture
 Some crops– may improve growing conditions
- however, with continued temp increase (esp.
Southern regions) some crops may not adapt.
- Northern regions may benefit most (since tend to
be cooler.) e.g. longer growing season opportunity.
-- Possible to grow new crops/different crops.
Long Term Effects & Climate Change
 Long-term effects of climate change are not
fully understood.
 Difficult to predict.
How Modern Agriculture Impacts the
Climate
 GHG emissions (burning of fossil fuels, manure,
food transportation– e.g.)
 Significant user of H20 resources.
 Significant user of land resources.
 Livestock– methane emissions, sig user of H20 and
grain.
 Factory Farming- e.g. (produce large amount of
GHG)
Are there Alternative
Solutions/Opportunities?
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GMO’s– e.g. resistant to drought/flooding
Increase irrigation efficiency
Agriculture & Forests = GHG “sinks”
Methane capture “tanks”
Improved fertilization practices– e.g. timing
Focus on locally produced foods– e.g. Farmers
Markets
References
 Backlund, P., Janetos, A., and Schimel, D.
Executive Summary: The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture,
Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity, pages 1-10.
-Retrieved from:
http://www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/files/CCSPFinalReport.pdf
 Ebi, KL, Mills, D.M., Smith, J.B., Grambsch, A. (2006)
Climate change and human health impacts in the United States: An
update on the results of the U.S. National Assessment.
Environmental Health Perspectives. 114:1318-1324.
References
 Interdependent Working Group on Climate Change.
(2008). Climate Change and Food Security. A
Framework Document. Summary. Rome: Italy: Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
(FAO). Retrieved from
http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/k2595e/k2595e00.htm
 Siikamaki, J. (2006). Climate Change and U.S.
Agriculture: Examining the Connections. Environment,
pgs. 36-49.