Effects of Extreme Weather on Health in Underserved Communities

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Apr 20:S1081-1206(24)00237-0. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2024.04.018. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIncreased fossil fuel usage has increased CO2 concentrations leading to global warming and climate change with increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, wildfires, droughts, heat waves, and others. These changes increase the risk of adverse health effects for all human beings. However, these experiences do not impact everyone equally. Underserved communities, including people of color, the elderly, people living with chronic conditions, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have greater vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. These vulnerabilities are a result of multiple factors such as disparities in healthcare, lower educational status, systemic racism, and many others. These social inequities are exacerbated by extreme weather events, which act as threat multipliers increasing disparities in health outcomes. It is clear that without human action, these global temperatures will continue to increase to unbearable levels creating an existential crisis. There is now global consensus that climate change is caused by anthropogenic activity and that actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change are urgently needed. The 2015 Paris Accord was the first truly global commitment that set goals to limit further warming. It also aimed to implement equity in action, founded on the principle of common but dif...
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research