90.985          Addressing the Adverse Health Effects of Climate Change in New York State:  Recommendations for Protecting New Yorkers’ Health and Safety from Global Warming and Climate Instability 

The Medical Society of the State of New York concurs with the scientific community that the Earth is experiencing global warming and climate instability brought on by the emission of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities. Global warming is causing sea level rise and New York State has become warmer, wetter and experiences more extreme weather events. New York’s healthcare delivery systems and infrastructure have been repeatedly stressed by severe weather events, Hurricane Sandy. These changes have adverse effects on society, the economy, and eco-systems on which New Yorkers rely for food and water. Health effects of climate change include an increase in tick-borne illnesses, allergies, heat-related illnesses including exacerbations of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Increases in extreme weather events are also associated with increases in injuries, fatalities, and worsened mental health. New York’s most vulnerable are suffering disproportionately including the elderly, children, farmers, low income communities, racial and ethnic minority groups.

Additional increases in temperatures and climate instability are inevitable and are serious threats to the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. If current emission trends continue, New York State may warm by 1.5ºC by 2050 and 3ºC by 2100. The health consequences of such warming would be substantial and potentially catastrophic even with adaptive measures. Even if emissions are curbed and warming is kept at 1.5ºC, New York State will still face more heatwaves, extreme weather, and potential disruption of agriculture and food production that will adversely impact the economy as well as the health and safety of our citizens.

Events that might overwhelm the capacity to provide healthcare cause the deepest concerns. Warming beyond 1.5ºC would greatly increase the likelihood of catastrophic events, so precautions must be taken to prevent worst-case scenarios. The medical community must assume a leadership role, educating society about the need to act on the drivers of global warming to prevent the escalating threats to health and well-being. Therefore, the Medical Society endorses the principle that GHG emissions from all sources must rapidly and dramatically be reduced.

Action by every sector of society will be necessary to meet the challenges ahead. Pessimism, fear, doubt, and denial are all understandable reactions to a challenge of this magnitude. Indeed, the task is daunting, but it is not unachievable. Moving away from fossil fuels will bring many advantages, particularly for human health and well-being. MSSNY seeks to increase awareness of the co-benefits associated with sustainable energy sources including decreased cost of maintenance and increased resilience of operations. It should be widely known that incremental reductions in air pollution from fossil fuels has an equally significant improvement in human health and savings in healthcare costs. MSSNY provides the following recommendations for key stakeholders on taking concrete actions in a unified and effective response to climate change.

Recommendations for Everyone

There are actions that each and every person and organization can do to improve their own health and well-being, and to prevent climate change. These include:

  • Reducing consumption of animal products and increase consumption of whole food plant-based meals, for both heart-health and reducing carbon footprint.
  • Increase one’s own use of green spaces and active transportation (walking, cycling, etc).
  • Increase use of renewable electricity generation and reduce use of carbon-powered machines and vehicles.
  • Reduce the use of carbon-based energy to power home heating/cooling; and

Recommendations for Physicians

Physicians can assist by helping to inform patient populations on how to protect themselves from climate-related health risks, such as:

  • Provide at-risk patients with information about heat-related illnesses, the protective effect of air conditioning, how to receive heat-event alerts, and how to locate cooling centers.
  • Provide education for at-risk patients (e.g. COPD, cardiovascular disease, asthma) on health risks related to air pollution and ozone, advise them on how to find and use the Air Quality Index, and what to do when air quality is poor;
  • Provide at-risk patients (e.g. allergic rhinitis, asthma) with information on aeroallergens, how to access and act on pollen count and air quality measures, and strategies to control indoor air quality (e.g. HEPA filters); and
  • Provide encouragement to all patient populations to undertake preparation and contingency planning (e.g., evacuation routes, safe shelters) for extreme weather events.

Recommendations for Healthcare Organizations

Healthcare organizations can lead the healthcare sector in reducing our carbon footprint, and in protecting healthcare infrastructure from climate-related risks. Actions healthcare organizations can take include:

  • Determining baselines and developing goals aimed at reductions of carbon emissions through sustainability metrics (e.g., GHG emissions, waste generation, recycling, environmentally preferable purchasing);
  • Incorporating climate-related risks specific to each organization’s location (e.g., heavy precipitation, floods, surge capacity during heat events), to guide resilient planning for buildings, facilities, and personnel.
  • Implementing climate instability preparedness training for personnel (e.g., under-graduate, post-graduate, and allied health workforce training programs);
  • Provide financial and other incentives that encourage climate-friendly actions by employees (e.g., showers for bicycle commuters, communication platforms for encouraging or ride-share, and enabling parking benefit cash-out); and
  • Encourage hospitals and health networks to include sustainability and climate change mitigation in their Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) initiatives.

Recommendations for MSSNY Actions

  • MSSNY should join with the American Medical Association to support the Clean Air Act to reduce GHG emissions.
  • Encourage healthcare facility initiatives to reduce carbon footprint through energy conservations, waste reduction, recycling and sustainable procurement.
  • Advocate for climate mitigation and adaptation policies that incorporate health equity and environmental justice that protects vulnerable populations (e.g. urban and rural poor. Native American communities.
  • Call for research funding to better understand climate change related health outcomes, including epidemiological, translational, clinical and basic science.
  • Advocate for medical education to include climate change impact on health.
  • Support green spaces, green building design, safe active transportation, whole food plant-based diets and renewable electricity generation.

Recommendations for Legislature

The New York State Legislature should take the lead in acting to prevent climate change. New York can:

  • Accelerate efforts to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) ensuring a rapid and just transition to a 100% renewable economy in New York State.
  • Provide funding to assist hospitals and healthcare institutions to reduce GHG.
  • Adopt occupational safety standards to protect outdoor workers from heat and climate related impacts.
  • Facilitate plant-based menus and reduce subsidies for livestock.
  • Fund the creation of more green spaces (e.g. planting trees) reducing urban heat-islands (e.g. green roofs), and building design standards that reduce heat load (e.g. passive ventilation).

Recommendations for Non-governmental Organizations

Non-governmental organizations should continue to lead New York in acting to prevent climate change. Such support can include:

  • Collaborating across multiple sectors and interest groups (e.g. architecture, energy, philanthropies, children’s environmental health, environmental justice and transportation to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
  • Incorporating climate-related risks specific to each organization’s location (e.g. heavy precipitations, floods, surge capacity during heat events), to guide planning for buildings, facilities and personnel.
  • Implementing climate instability preparedness training for personnel (e.g. undergraduate, post-graduate and allied health workforce training programs.
  • Provide financial and other incentives that encourage climate-friendly actions by employees (e.g. showers for bicycle commuters, communication platforms for encouraging ride-share or enabling parking benefit cash-out).
  • Encourage hospitals and health networks to include sustainability and climate change mitigation in their Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).
  • Promoting consumer/business programs, advocating for and facilitating active transportation (walking, cycling, etc.) encouraging the modification of fleet vehicles, advocating for green building design and reducing carbon intensive consumption (e.g. less meat, less waste, supporting local produce and eliminate bottled water. (Adopted by Council, 1/14/21.  The full report from the Preventive Medicine and Family Health Committee is available through the office of Public Health and Education.)