An Urgent Issue: Climate Change and the Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania

An Urgent Issue:

Climate Change and the Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania

by Susan Robbins, MD, MPH, Poune Saberi, MD, MPH, and Tonyehn Verkitus

Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania (PSR PA) is a non-profit organization through which a variety of health professionals in the state address “the greatest threats to public health” and advance the greatest public health opportunities of our century. Its mission is to “promote socially and environmentally responsible practices, policies and programs to safeguard and improve public health” with particular concentration on climate change and environmental health issues along with efforts to prevent violence and ban nuclear weapon proliferation (with the last item being a founding objective of the national PSR organization). As the World Health Organization in 2021 described climate change as the “single biggest health threat facing humanity” while it called for organizations to “act with urgency,” it is certainly appropriate that PSR PA considers addressing climate change to be one of its highest priorities.

Climate change is of great concern throughout our state, our country and the world because of the magnitude and rapid rate of the change that is occurring. Human activity has led to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and deforestation, considered two of the primary causes of climate change, with much of the greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. being due to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Earth’s rise in surface temperature is leading to a decrease in sea ice and land ice (glaciers), an increase in permafrost thawing, an increase in heat waves along with heavy precipitation in many areas, and decreased water resources in semi-arid regions. Each of these changes is having devastating effects around the globe. In the northeast of the United States, the number of heavy precipitation events have increased by more than 70% since the 1950s and the climate stands to get hotter and wetter in the next decades.

Why is climate change a threat to health? Some of the threats include the following: •Warmer climates are causing increases in water-borne, food-borne, and vector-borne diseases including Zika and Lyme disease, which is now being reported in every Pennsylvania county •Air pollution, especially from the burning of fossil fuels, is multiplied in a warming climate and adversely affects those with asthma and other respiratory ailments and is even associated with increased death rates •Increasing numbers of floods, storms and heat waves are causing injuries, accidents and death to thousands •Rising sea levels are destroying homes, communities and places of employment •Drought and flooding are affecting food production and access, leading to more incidences of food insecurity and hunger •Longer periods of warm weather are leading to longer pollen seasons (particularly affecting those with allergy-related disorders), and more smog and mold issues

Along with such life-altering experiences, often not taken into consideration are the mental health issues that are additionally occurring with climate change – partially due to more physical illnesses, family deaths, home and job losses, food insecurity, and other challenges. Depression, anxiety, social unrest and post-traumatic stress disorder all have been linked to persons experiencing the adverse effects of climate change.

As with most health issues, people living in poverty, particularly minorities, along with the very young, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions, are being most adversely affected by climate change. Children in particular are also being affected by what is being called “eco-anxiety.” Children are paying attention and they understand that their future health and prosperity are being threatened from inaction by those in charge, and they feel powerless to do anything about it. According to Dr. Ned Ketyer, pediatrician and PSR PA’s board president, “Children’s fears about climate change are well founded and shouldn’t be dismissed by the adults in their lives.” When possible, having children see responsible adults take positive actions on climate change helps to reassure them that their concerns are being addressed, and their futures are being considered.

What strategy is PSR PA using to address the issue of climate change? 1. Ensure that public health professionals and public health messaging are front-and-center in Pennsylvania’s efforts to tackle climate change. 2. Ensure that decision makers are hearing from health professionals about their concerns surrounding climate change. 3. Mobilizing and expanding the network of public health organizations, officials and experts in Pennsylvania who can speak to the issue of the threats posed by climate change.

Knowing that time is of the essence to address climate change, PSR PA is on the move using its strategy noted above. Currently it is participating in or leading conferences on climate change and environmental health such as The Pennsylvania Climate Convergence, and COP27: A Regional Response to Climate Action Health and Equity, both conferences taking place in June 2022. More conferences are planned. PSRPA is also offering two CME programs regarding climate change: 1. The Climate Emergency Film Club, a 5-part science documentary and panel discussion series which explores how human activity is setting off Earth’s own warming loops that

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are pushing the climate to a point of no return and what can be done to stop them; and 2. OCAREER, a certificate program to assist practitioners in assessing how climate change is impacting health. The new mnemonic, OCAREER, stands for occupation, conditions, activities, residence, environmental conditions, education and resources. OCAREER has eight online, asynchronous modules which contain a slide deck and an article to read. 4

CME credits are available to physician participants, 4 CEUs for pharmacists, and 4 CEs for nurses.

For those interested in learning more, PSR PA can provide knowledgeable speakers and presentations, particularly through their Education and Advocacy Council, and can conduct general advocacy skills trainings, especially suited for health care professionals or students. Additional information regarding past PSR PA activities, including educational presentations on climate change, can be found on its website: www.psrpa.org. There you will also find archived informative videos, articles, op-eds, and relevant interviews with PSR PA speakers.

PSR PA welcomes health care professionals and students who are interested in and concerned about climate change to reach out and join its efforts, especially by signing up through the Education and Advocacy Council (email: info@psrpa.org). Utilizing their background knowledge and expertise, the professionals and students can work alongside PSR PA staff to send messages that have weight. Their voices are needed to speak out about the health threats posed by climate change — an urgent issue!