News Series Delves into Public Health Impacts of Climate Change

climate ying and yangA series by the Capital News Service reporters examines the public health effects of climate change. The first part, “The Bitter Cold,” focuses on cold weather.

From the Capital News Service’s “The Bitter Cold”:

Cold poses a great risk not only to the homeless outdoors but also to a much larger population who suffer indoors with chronic health conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are exacerbated by exposure to low temperatures and reduce life expectancy. In Baltimore, these conditions are more common in low-income neighborhoods, where residents may be struggling to pay heating bills.

Several state and city programs aim to help low-income people and those with chronic health conditions stay warm during the winter. But those efforts fall short of protecting many of the people most at risk in Baltimore, Capital News Service found. Adding to the problem: an increase in utility shutoffs to low-income households just before state-mandated protections kick in at the start of winter.

This summer, the Capital News Service in partnership with NPR, the Baltimore Sun, and Wide Angle Youth Media will also look at how heat and humidity impact public health.

Read the Capital News report “The Bitter Cold” to learn more.

The public health effects of climate change will be discussed at the 2019 MACo Summer Conference session, “The Climate-Health Connection Will Blow You Away.” The session is scheduled from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

The MACo Summer Conference will be held August 14-17 at the Ocean City Convention Center. This year’s theme is “Winds of Change.”

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: