
Doctors are taking aim at the fossil fuels industry, placing blame for the world's most dire health problems on the companies that continue to seek oil and gas profits even as climate change worsens heat waves, intensifies flooding and roils people's mental health.
"The burning of fossil fuels is creating a health crisis that I can't fix by the time I see patients in my emergency department," said Dr. Renee Salas, summarizing the findings of a report published Tuesday in The Lancet. "Fossil fuel companies are making record profits while my patients suffer from their downstream health harms."
Salas, an emergency medical physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, is one of nearly 100 authors who contributed to the prestigious medical journal's annual report on climate change and health.
The report accuses fossil fuel purveyors - and the governments that subsidize them - of subverting "efforts to deliver a low carbon, healthy, liveable future" and demands that world leaders pursue a health-centered approach to solving the climate crisis.
The report's theme reflects a growing frustration and helplessness expressed by medical professionals left to deal with the impacts of climate change as world leaders struggle to address the root cause.
"The report highlights the harm the fossil fuel industry has really wreaked in creating this crisis," said Dr. Jerry Abraham, the director and chief vaccinologist at Kedren Community Health Center in Los Angeles, who was not involved in writing the report. "Foe is a harsh word, but it has to be used."
As in previous reports, the 2022 Lancet Countdown paints a grim picture of how climate change is threatening people's health and the care systems that are supposed to help manage it, calling its latest findings the "direst" yet. This year's report leaves little ambiguity about who the doctors view as responsible for the harms and stresses they feel in clinics.
The annual report catalogs the health impacts of change worldwide and a separate policy brief outlines impacts in the U.S.
According to these reports:
Heat-related deaths worldwide have increased by about 68% since the beginning of the millennium, according to data comparing 2000-04 to 2017-21, when the issue was made worse by Covid-19. Extreme heat was linked to 98 million cases of hunger worldwide. In the U.S., heat-related deaths for people over age 65 are estimated to have increased by about 74% during that same time period.
Tiny particles released into the air as pollution during fossil fuel use were responsible for 1.2 million deaths in 2020. About 11,840 U.S. deaths were attributable to particulate air pollution, according to Salas.
Changes in temperature, precipitation and population since the 1950s have increased the transmissibility of diseases spread by mosquitoes, with dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika all up by roughly 12%. In the U.S., the transmissibility of dengue fever was about 64% higher.
Climate change is taking a toll on mental health. "There's strong evidence that climate change is associated with more depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety," said Natasha K. DeJarnett, a lead author of the U.S. policy brief and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Louisville.
There are some hopeful signs. The report notes growth in renewable energy investment, increasing media coverage of climate change and growing engagement from government leaders on health-centered climate policies. But the report warns that inequities could weaken progress.
Abraham, who serves patients in South Los Angeles, said he sees the effects associated with climate change in his clinic regularly - including children suffering from asthma, older patients dealing with heat-related health issues and others coming down with pollution-linked diseases like cancer.
He worries that inequities will grow and that some people will be left behind as the U.S. invests in electrification and decarbonization.
"My patients in South L.A. - Black and brown L.A. - they're going to be some of the most vulnerable. Many don't have air conditioning and we're dealing with rising temperatures and heat waves," Abraham said, adding that the price of healthy food is rising and so are transportation costs. "Imagine having all this investment in electricity, but our patients have to get their beat-up Chevy to the gas station and contribute to the climate crisis to go and pick our food."
On a broader scale, the report warns that wealthy countries have fallen behind on helping the poorest countries, which often are among the most at risk for health problems because of climate change and who have the least responsibility for creating the problem.
The Lancet Countdown is published each year before the annual U.N. conference on climate change, called COP27 this year and scheduled to be held in Egypt in early November.
After flooding left one-third of Pakistan underwater and killed thousands, the nation is among those calling for climate reparations - a topic sure to surface during the global climate talks.
"It's going to be a big issue at COP - loss and damages," said Carol Devine, who works on climate issues for Doctors Without Borders.
Devine said that if wealthy countries do not follow through on previous commitments and add funding to bolster health systems in poorer countries to help them adapt to climate change, "humanitarian organizations are going to be overwhelmed."
The health care industry also has a responsibility to eliminate its own contributions to climate change, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association. Health care organizations are responsible for about 5.2% of global emissions and about 8% in the U.S., according to the Lancet reports.
"We can begin to work a lot more aggressively with revitalizing our hospitals and getting them off the use of fossil fuels," Benjamin said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Mark
(2022-10-31 03:04:57Z)This was very informative. Thanks for sharing.
REPLYconcrete staining passaic county
concrete removal wayne nj
(2022-10-31 03:08:44Z)We should listen to the experts.
REPLYKhdfwn
(2022-11-04 13:52:33Z)order rocaltrol 0.25 mg generic buy rocaltrol 0.25 mg for sale buy calcitriol sale
REPLYUwdjck
(2022-11-04 17:50:13Z)order rocaltrol 0.25 mg generic order generic rocaltrol 0.25 mg purchase calcitriol without prescription
REPLYZfzvvj
(2022-11-08 12:29:56Z)azithromycin pills prednisolone uk cheap neurontin without prescription
REPLYTvfjog
(2022-11-09 15:29:50Z)furosemide 100mg oral stromectol 6mg cheap ivermectin 3mg otc
REPLYKuguoa
(2022-11-10 18:42:31Z)purchase plaquenil sale buy metformin 1000mg generic stromectol covid 19
REPLYFqzezn
(2022-11-12 01:40:12Z)buy atorvastatin 80mg generic overnight delivery viagra viagra canada
REPLYIpjofl
(2022-11-13 04:24:11Z)lisinopril 2.5mg cost amlodipine 10mg drug rx pharmacy online cialis
REPLYLirpwv
(2022-11-14 07:17:17Z)order metoprolol 50mg online cheap order metoprolol 50mg generic medrol 16 mg tablet
REPLYAatsdj
(2022-11-15 10:37:20Z)clomid price order clomiphene 50mg sale order pregabalin generic
REPLYcash cars lawrence
(2022-11-16 03:10:21Z)Thanks for the information.
REPLYLlhbre
(2022-11-16 16:22:33Z)aristocort 4mg usa buy ventolin inhalator for sale brand priligy
REPLYImibhu
(2022-11-18 05:32:18Z)misoprostol us buy xenical sale synthroid 100mcg for sale
REPLYRvhjyz
(2022-11-20 04:47:21Z)acyclovir pill acyclovir 400mg for sale order zyloprim 100mg pills
REPLYQdolix
(2022-11-22 03:08:44Z)order rosuvastatin 10mg pill order motilium 10mg generic tetracycline cheap
REPLYVczveg
(2022-11-23 23:23:59Z)order baclofen 10mg without prescription viagra 100mg price viagra 50mg for sale
REPLYBhdsve
(2022-11-26 05:28:06Z)cialis on line order tadalafil 10mg online toradol 10mg pills
REPLYGqrptr
(2022-11-28 12:32:29Z)buy colchicine online propranolol oral brand methotrexate 2.5mg
REPLYIeskzh
(2022-11-30 14:45:03Z)cozaar 25mg us imitrex uk sumatriptan 50mg ca
REPLYFsmhrq
(2022-12-02 11:49:06Z)avodart ca buy ondansetron for sale zofran online order
REPLYLaecqv
(2022-12-03 19:34:02Z)aldactone 100mg usa buy aldactone 25mg pill buy fluconazole sale
REPLYIgckog
(2022-12-05 02:51:39Z)ampicillin 250mg drug buy cephalexin 125mg generic erythromycin 500mg usa
REPLYGehjqc
(2022-12-06 10:10:21Z)buy sildenafil 100mg without prescription purchase bimatoprost cost robaxin
REPLYGcmtpb
(2022-12-07 17:45:11Z)sildenafil 100mg canada buy sildalis without prescription estrace 2mg generic
REPLYIzaytw
(2022-12-08 23:36:13Z)lamotrigine 50mg canada purchase prazosin for sale buy tretinoin cream online
REPLYCxywgw
(2022-12-10 04:29:44Z)tadalafil pills avanafil 200mg ca buy diclofenac 50mg online cheap
REPLYUmhpzr
(2022-12-11 03:47:49Z)buy accutane 10mg pill order zithromax sale purchase zithromax generic
REPLYCqnmix
(2022-12-11 09:47:35Z)order indocin 50mg sale indomethacin 75mg sale amoxicillin 250mg uk
REPLYFrfxvz
(2022-12-12 16:43:19Z)cialis 5mg for sale best treatment for ed brand viagra pills
REPLYGfxmvb
(2022-12-12 20:52:37Z)arimidex 1mg usa Canadian generic viagra online viagra 100mg for sale
REPLYYoluvg
(2022-12-13 23:04:00Z)tadalafil 40mg sans ordonnance en pharmacie sildenafil 100mg generique en pharmacie sildenafil en france
REPLYNtuprw
(2022-12-14 00:41:42Z)prednisone pills super cialis sildenafil 100mg pills
REPLYBhegpx
(2022-12-15 11:59:12Z)tadalafil fГјr frauen viagra 50mg kaufen generika original sildenafil 200mg rezeptfrei sicher kaufen
REPLYBcltcn
(2022-12-16 00:52:47Z)purchase isotretinoin pills buy stromectol 12mg stromectol 15 mg
REPLYAqltss
(2022-12-16 15:37:39Z)provigil order Get cialis buy generic acetazolamide 250mg
REPLYSgenjh
(2022-12-17 03:49:24Z)doxycycline online order clomid 100mg furosemide 100mg uk
REPLYOqsifv
(2022-12-17 12:38:22Z)altace 5mg generic order altace 5mg online order azelastine 10ml online cheap
REPLYDthtgf
(2022-12-18 07:00:15Z)cost clonidine 0.1 mg purchase minocin without prescription spiriva uk
REPLYEggmbg
(2022-12-18 16:51:59Z)buspirone 10mg uk cordarone 100mg price ditropan over the counter
REPLYZuwelz
(2022-12-19 10:51:42Z)terazosin 5mg cheap order sulfasalazine 500 mg without prescription order azulfidine 500 mg online cheap
REPLYBczkwi
(2022-12-19 21:27:43Z)alendronate 70mg price paracetamol canada pepcid online buy
REPLYFeozvl
(2022-12-20 15:08:45Z)order benicar 20mg pills benicar generic purchase acetazolamide pills
REPLYPuwodc
(2022-12-21 02:07:15Z)prograf uk labetalol oral ursodiol 150mg tablet
REPLYRgllpz
(2022-12-21 19:12:36Z)purchase imdur pill buy isosorbide 40mg generic telmisartan 80mg brand
REPLYDsbnbl
(2022-12-22 07:44:14Z)cheap bupropion oral quetiapine order quetiapine 50mg online cheap
REPLYUypogn
(2022-12-23 03:42:19Z)order molnunat 200mg generic molnupiravir 200 mg usa lansoprazole drug
REPLYYmlogi
(2022-12-23 17:06:20Z)buy generic sertraline generic escitalopram 10mg buy generic sildenafil 50mg
REPLYFqfuii
(2022-12-24 06:36:00Z)buy imuran online cheap cheap sildenafil for sale viagra for men
REPLYWecwvn
(2022-12-24 21:31:33Z)tadalafil 10mg pills Real cialis online viagra usa
REPLYWczrrc
(2022-12-25 09:27:10Z)tadalafil online buy order cialis 20mg symmetrel sale
REPLYKwygqy
(2022-12-26 01:38:52Z)naltrexone 50mg for sale cost albenza 400mg order aripiprazole 20mg online
REPLYJzuere
(2022-12-26 13:35:20Z)dapsone price order nifedipine 10mg online cheap buy generic perindopril 4mg
REPLYRofdup
(2022-12-27 05:51:15Z)oral medroxyprogesterone 10mg buy generic periactin cyproheptadine without prescription
REPLYVlyrfj
(2022-12-28 02:58:46Z)modafinil 200mg cheap modafinil pill stromectol 6mg
REPLYFoyaox
(2022-12-28 10:00:18Z)buy fluvoxamine online cheap cymbalta us purchase glipizide
REPLYJhzmpx
(2022-12-29 07:38:47Z)buy accutane 40mg sale brand amoxicillin 250mg prednisone 5mg canada
REPLYXfabrt
(2022-12-29 22:32:10Z)generic piracetam 800 mg sildenafil overnight shipping viagra 100mg for sale
REPLYAmfprm
(2022-12-30 11:29:10Z)brand zithromax 250mg buy prednisolone 40mg pill buy gabapentin 600mg
REPLYKhvkqq
(2022-12-31 02:21:31Z)cialis overnight tadalafil 10mg generic sildenafil professional
REPLYEganwt
(2022-12-31 15:19:02Z)order furosemide 40mg online furosemide 40mg brand buy hydroxychloroquine 400mg for sale
REPLYOrnaak
(2023-01-01 05:34:02Z)buy cialis canada betamethasone 20gm creams anafranil 25mg price
REPLYDfczqw
(2023-01-01 18:40:20Z)chloroquine price aralen us olumiant 4mg ca
REPLYMkdqdo
(2023-01-02 10:19:05Z)itraconazole 100mg for sale sporanox 100 mg oral buy tinidazole pills
REPLYLhqlju
(2023-01-02 22:48:16Z)buy glucophage pill atorvastatin 10mg generic buy generic cialis 5mg
REPLYPscwfa
(2023-01-03 14:23:47Z)order olanzapine pill bystolic ca buy valsartan
REPLYXqatnh
(2023-01-04 02:50:23Z)buy amlodipine online viagra order cialis price walmart
REPLYPdjphf
(2023-01-04 18:41:52Z)buy clozaril 100mg online buy decadron sale buy dexamethasone 0,0,5 mg generic
REPLYAdseru
(2023-01-05 07:01:01Z)viagra 50mg price purchase viagra pill lisinopril 10mg usa
REPLYBtufip
(2023-01-05 22:44:21Z)buy zyvox 600mg for sale zyvox 600 mg us online casino real money no deposit
REPLYTvmqqa
(2023-01-06 11:11:08Z)omeprazole 20mg drug omeprazole 10mg price free slots
REPLYOboxia
(2023-01-07 15:01:53Z)buy lopressor 100mg without prescription purchase levitra sale generic levitra 20mg
REPLYDrpcdt
(2023-01-08 16:14:11Z)pay for essays academic writing article online casinos usa
REPLYEvajwg
(2023-01-09 04:36:21Z)buy generic vardenafil buy pregabalin 75mg for sale methylprednisolone 4 mg oral
REPLYSafnqa
(2023-01-10 10:28:07Z)clomid for sale order albuterol sale playing poker online
REPLYHkdrqw
(2023-01-11 12:23:20Z)usa cialis overnight sildenafil 100mg pills for men sildenafil 50mg oral
REPLYWvxqqa
(2023-01-11 16:19:05Z)triamcinolone order loratadine pills purchase clarinex online
REPLYVazxcw
(2023-01-12 21:25:31Z)dapoxetine 60mg oral order synthroid 75mcg online synthroid 100mcg canada
REPLYEpymee
(2023-01-12 23:01:51Z)cialis 10mg brand order generic viagra order viagra
REPLYRjvcmj
(2023-01-14 03:07:14Z)xenical 60mg uk xenical 120mg for sale order zovirax online
REPLYEihdkd
(2023-01-14 03:26:31Z)generic for cialis buy inderal 20mg generic plavix 75mg us
REPLYIxvhnu
(2023-01-15 07:19:07Z)order zyloprim 300mg for sale buy rosuvastatin 20mg order ezetimibe online
REPLYLkxfpr
(2023-01-15 21:27:23Z)methotrexate 10mg uk order reglan online cheap order reglan 20mg
REPLYPtdthu
(2023-01-16 11:55:24Z)order generic domperidone 10mg flexeril 15mg over the counter order flexeril generic
REPLYNwsmvn
(2023-01-17 01:52:49Z)cozaar pill buy generic cozaar topiramate order
REPLYWmzbke
(2023-01-17 16:47:39Z)lioresal online buy zanaflex drug toradol buy online
REPLYJtpchj
(2023-01-18 06:33:11Z)buy imitrex 50mg generic oral dutasteride buy avodart 0.5mg pill
REPLYSsjjfh
(2023-01-18 21:50:43Z)colchicine over the counter poker online for money free online slots
REPLYPsobuz
(2023-01-19 11:33:46Z)zantac 300mg cheap zantac 150mg over the counter celecoxib oral
REPLYUseyvn
(2023-01-20 03:01:17Z)free slots online online roulette real money online casino roulette
REPLYGpkrei
(2023-01-20 16:23:11Z)purchase flomax for sale buy zofran for sale purchase spironolactone generic
REPLYWlkqzk
(2023-01-21 16:57:47Z)cialis 5mg pills cipro 1000mg uk cipro sale
REPLYXmthxe
(2023-01-22 12:58:58Z)buy zocor 10mg online simvastatin 20mg uk cost propecia
REPLYZmctyd
(2023-01-22 21:35:23Z)purchase flagyl online augmentin pill buy bactrim 480mg sale
REPLYByfhlt
(2023-01-23 17:38:34Z)fluconazole without prescription sildenafil online order viagra 100mg uk
REPLYOpsnnf
(2023-01-24 02:33:23Z)oral keflex 500mg cephalexin price erythromycin generic
REPLYWxiwlv
(2023-01-25 04:09:36Z)viagra sildenafil 200mg sildenafil generic purchase cialis online cheap
REPLYPantkz
(2023-01-26 00:43:57Z)order cefuroxime 250mg online cheap cefuroxime usa methocarbamol pill
REPLYUpaddb
(2023-01-26 17:12:25Z)spins real money online gambling slots games cialis 10mg cheap
REPLYBkoqtv
(2023-01-27 10:06:38Z)desyrel 100mg pills order sildenafil 50mg sale order generic aurogra
REPLYGnvzhf
(2023-01-28 04:46:02Z)academic writing is buy an essay online buy stromectol usa
REPLY