Climate change is taking a huge toll on Americans' health, so much so that it could constitute a public health crisis, according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council ("NRDC") and the University of California at San Francisco.

The study, published in the journal GeoHealth, found that Americans endured more than $10 billion in health costs from 10 climate-sensitive events in 2012.

"Climate change represents a major public health emergency. But its destructive and expensive toll on Americans' health has largely been absent from the climate policy debate," said study lead author Dr. Vijay Limaye, a scientist in NRDC's science center. "Our research shows that health-related costs added at least another 26 percent to the national price tag for 2012 severe weather-related damages.

"This continuing untold human suffering and staggering cost is another reason we must take assertive action to curb climate change now. Cutting greenhouse gas pollution and expanding clean energy, while also investing in preparedness and climate adaptation, is the prescription for a safer, healthier future."

The study analyzed national- and state-collected health surveillance data across a wide range of 10 types of climate-sensitive events around the country in 2012.

The analysis examined costs from Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey and New York; wildfires in Colorado and Washington; ozone air pollution in Nevada; extreme heat in Wisconsin; infectious disease outbreaks of tick-borne Lyme disease in Michigan and mosquito-borne West Nile Virus in Texas; extreme weather in Ohio; allergenic oak pollen in North Carolina; and harmful algal blooms on the Florida coast.

Those events resulted in at least $10 billion in health-related costs from about 900 deaths, 21,000 hospitalizations, 18,000 emergency room visits, and 37,000 outpatient encounters.

Among key findings from the NRDC's case studies:

  • Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey led to 273 premature deaths there and in other states, 6,602 hospital admissions, and $3.1 billion in total health costs;
  • Wildfires in Colorado and Washington led to 419 premature deaths, 627 hospital admissions, and $3.9 billion in total health costs;
  • West Nile virus in Texas led to 89 premature deaths, 1,628 hospital admissions, and $1.1 billion in total health costs; and
  • Ozone air pollution in Nevada led to 97 premature deaths, 114 hospital admissions, and $898 million in total health costs.

Since 2012, annual temperatures have continued to rise, and the five hottest years on record globally have all been in the last five years. While the U.S. experienced 11 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2012, that total was exceeded in 2016, 2017, and 2018, according to data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA"). The NOAA annual extreme weather cost estimates do not include health costs.

"Our research signals that all told, there could be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in health costs already from recent climate-related exposures nationwide," said study co-author Dr. Kim Knowlton, senior scientist at NRDC. "It's clear that failing to address climate change, and soon, will cost us a fortune, including irreversible damage to our health."

The report estimated that more than two-thirds of the illness costs were paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. That aligns with research showing that older adults and the economically-disadvantaged are among those most vulnerable to harm from climate change.

Finally, while the report showed a sizeable impact on public health, its authors noted the true costs were likely substantially higher but could not be fully evaluated due to incomplete health surveillance and environmental monitoring.

Victoria Spears

Victoria Spears

Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].

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