Welcome to a new monthly segment on the intersection of our changing climate and the health ramifications our patients, and each of us, will face. Humanity's consumption of fossil fuels releases stored carbon, nitrogen, methane and other gasses into our atmosphere leading to a cascade of effects that are now causing more morbidity and mortality than tobacco use in our global population. As Emergency Physicians, we see these consequences not just in heat and respiratory illness from exposure to extreme temperatures and wildfire smoke, but the insidious harms of premature births, increased cardiovascular disease and frequency of newly diagnosed cancers. The goal of this climate health column, is to promote a better understanding of this planetary disease process so that we can implement a treatment strategy that will help earth and its inhabitants.
Framing this issue as a disease allows it to be approachable as diseases and treatments are our bread and butter. As scientists we are skeptical of media stories, website reports and family gossip, as they usually do not portray the facts of the situation, so we must search for something more real and concrete to gain understanding. Climate change is no different because unfortunately people commenting on the situation have agendas that are usually based on money and power. Luckily, we observe and scientifically process information and biases to look for as close to a truth on a subject as we can approach. This makes us perfect to see this topic, this issue, this disease with an objective lens, so that we may be able to share our understanding with others in our care settings and community.
Conceptually climate change is hard for humans to grasp in our caveman brain. The death of all of us, an existential crisis, how do we truly appreciate what that means? It cannot be real because facing that reality would be devastating to our psyche. However, we see inhuman things every day, that human minds are not supposed to comprehend from deformities to abuse to mental illness. Our soul is challenged by these realities, yet we are able to process them better than most, moving forward to the next patient, next shift, next disturbance. Each day doom and gloom of our planet is on display with people suffering and others not wanting to look but the difference is that in our climate emergency, hope and success is all around us. We need to be the ones to help see the current situation and share the benefits of treatments mixed with faith that a cure is obtainable.
Exploring these solutions as we delve into how health is interrelated to climate change, hopefully each of us will become more confident in bringing this discussion into our daily conversations. Talking about exciting advancement in medicine, we feel empowered to give promise to our patients that they will feel better. Similarly, sharing ideas of renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, sustainable practices and clean transportation will give confidence to our patients and community that we all have a role to play in the health of our planet. We all are difference makers, trusted voices and leaders who can handle the gravity of this problem. Please join me as we take a deep dive into how climate change is affecting patient health and the solutions we enact in our community, where everyday is Earth Day!
