Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change – The Invading Sea

Report on Climate Change Impacts on Public Health and the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Climate Change as a Primary Obstacle to SDG 3

Climate change represents a significant threat to global public health, directly undermining progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). While contemporary health discussions often focus on other issues, the escalating impacts of climate change—including heat stress, air pollution, infectious disease proliferation, and food insecurity—are responsible for millions of fatalities annually. The U.S. government formally acknowledged these risks in 2009, establishing that climate change endangers public health. However, recent policy proposals to rescind this finding and reverse climate progress pose a direct threat to achieving the SDGs and ensuring the health and safety of populations.

Climate-Induced Health Risks and Their Impact on the SDGs

The interconnectedness of climate change and public health affects multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The following sections detail the primary health risks and their relationship to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Extreme Heat: A Direct Threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The accumulation of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources traps heat, leading to rising global temperatures. This exposes a growing number of people to dangerous heat levels, with severe health consequences.

• Health Outcomes: Increased incidence of heat-related illnesses and fatalities. Global heat-related deaths rose by 23% from the 1990s to the 2010s.
• Vulnerable Populations: Outdoor workers, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions face the greatest risk, highlighting a challenge to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Future Projections: Major urban centers are projected to experience a significant increase in days with life-threatening heat, further jeopardizing progress on SDG 3.

Extreme Weather Events: A Multi-faceted Threat to Development Goals

Climate change intensifies extreme weather events, including rainfall, hurricanes, and droughts, which have cascading effects on health and community stability, impacting several SDGs.

1. Flooding and Storms: Warmer air and oceans fuel more intense storms and flooding. This leads to direct health risks such as drowning and electrocution, and indirect risks like water contamination from pathogens and chemicals, which compromises SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Drought and Wildfires: Worsening droughts disrupt food supplies, threatening SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The resulting dry conditions increase the prevalence of dust-related respiratory illnesses and create environments conducive to wildfires.

Air Pollution: A Detriment to SDG 3 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities)

Climate change exacerbates air pollution from multiple sources, with significant health repercussions.

• Wildfire Smoke: A toxic mixture of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and hazardous compounds that can travel thousands of miles, increasing risks of heart attacks, lung cancer, and other respiratory conditions.
• Ground-Level Ozone: Warmer conditions promote the formation of ozone, a potent lung and heart irritant.
• Fossil Fuel Emissions: The primary driver of climate change is also a direct source of air pollutants linked to strokes, asthma, and cancer. Addressing this is critical for achieving the clean air targets within SDG 3 and SDG 11.

Proliferation of Infectious Diseases and SDG 3

Rising temperatures create more favorable conditions for the spread of infectious diseases, challenging global health security.

• Vector-Borne Diseases: Warmer climates expand the habitats and biting rates of insects like mosquitoes, increasing the transmission of dengue fever and chikungunya virus into new regions.
• Water- and Food-Borne Illnesses: Increased temperatures and extreme rainfall events elevate the risk of diseases such as cholera and those caused by contaminated stormwater, undermining SDG 6.
• Fungal Infections: Drought conditions have been linked to a higher risk of fungal infections like coccidioidomycosis (valley fever).

Compounding Impacts on Well-being (SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 10)

The health impacts of climate change are wide-ranging and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, thereby hindering progress on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Allergies and Nutrition: Longer pollen seasons increase allergen exposure, while reduced crop yields threaten food security and access to nutritious food, impacting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
• Mental Health: Climate-related disasters are associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Vulnerable Groups: Children, older adults, pregnant women, and low-income communities face heightened risks due to greater exposure and fewer resources for adaptation and recovery.

Strategic Actions to Mitigate Health Risks and Advance the SDGs

Individual Contributions to SDG 12 and SDG 13

Individuals can adopt lifestyle changes that support both personal health and global climate goals, contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. Adopting plant-rich diets to reduce the carbon footprint of food production.
2. Utilizing active transport methods like walking and cycling to reduce vehicle emissions.
3. Conserving energy at home to lower demand from fossil fuel-based power plants.

Governmental and Corporate Imperatives for Achieving the SDGs

Systemic action by governments and corporations is essential for large-scale mitigation and adaptation, aligning national policies with the 2030 Agenda.

• Promote SDG 8 (Decent Work): Implement workplace safety rules to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat exposure.
• Strengthen SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities): Invest in community resilience through cooling centers, early warning systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Ensure SDG 6 and SDG 7: Modernize water systems to handle extreme rainfall and transition from fossil fuels to affordable and clean energy sources like solar and wind, which are now more cost-effective.
• Commit to SDG 13 (Climate Action): Enact policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, which directly endangers public health and obstructs progress on the SDGs.

Conclusion

Addressing climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a fundamental prerequisite for achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and the broader Sustainable Development Goals. Policies that weaken climate action are in direct opposition to global health objectives and threaten the well-being of current and future generations. A concerted effort to transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy is imperative for protecting public health and realizing the 2030 Agenda.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is the direct and indirect impact of climate change on human health. It details numerous health risks, including heat-related illnesses and deaths, respiratory problems from air pollution, the spread of infectious diseases, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression following climate-related disasters.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The entire article is framed around the urgent need to take action on climate change to protect public health. It discusses the causes of climate change (greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels) and the consequences (extreme heat, weather events, etc.), and critiques government policies that hinder climate progress.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article identifies the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and power plants as a primary source of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. It advocates for a transition to clean energy, highlighting that solar and wind are now less expensive than fossil fuels, thus connecting climate action and health to energy policy.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article touches upon urban health risks, such as worsening air quality from wildfire smoke and ground-level ozone. It also proposes community-level solutions like opening cooling centers during heat waves and promoting public transit to reduce vehicle emissions.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The connection to this goal is made through the discussion of extreme weather. The article states that increased rainfall and flooding lead to “water contamination from human pathogens and toxic chemicals” and “sewage-contaminated stormwater overflows,” which threaten drinking water safety.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is addressed through the mention of food security. The article notes that climate change impacts, such as drought, can lead to “lower crop yields” which “can reduce access to nutritious foods.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article highlights the occupational health risks associated with climate change, specifically mentioning that “people who work outside” in sectors like “agriculture and construction” are at high risk from extreme heat. It suggests that workplace safety can be addressed through protective rules.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article points out the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations. It states that “lower-income people are also at greater risk because of higher rates of chronic disease, higher exposures to climate hazards and fewer resources for protection, medical care and recovery from disasters.”

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The article connects air pollution from fossil fuels and wildfires to non-communicable diseases such as “heart attacks, strokes, asthma flare-ups and lung cancer.”
   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. This is directly supported by the article’s focus on health harms from “wildfire smoke,” “ground-level ozone,” and “water contamination from human pathogens and toxic chemicals” due to flooding.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article mentions the spread of infectious diseases like “dengue fever” and “chikungunya virus” into new areas as a growing health risk and suggests that communities can provide “early warning systems” for climate-related hazards.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article details numerous climate-related hazards, including “heat wave,” “wildfire smoke,” “hurricane,” “flooding,” and “droughts,” and discusses the need for adaptive measures like cooling centers.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. This is highlighted by the discussion of the U.S. government’s 2009 “endangerment finding” and the Trump administration’s move to “rescind” it to “reverse U.S. climate progress.”

3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article explicitly calls for governments to “promote clean energy rather than fossil fuels” and notes that “solar and wind energy are less expensive than fossil fuel energy.”

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The article discusses how wildfires and warmer conditions are “worsening air quality” through “fine particulate matter (or PM2.5)” and “ground-level ozone.”

5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The article directly addresses this by stating that “Workplace safety can be addressed through rules to reduce heat exposure for people who work outdoors in industries such as agriculture and construction.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Mortality and Morbidity Rates

   • Indicator: Mortality rate attributed to disasters and pollution. The article provides specific data points that can be used as indicators, such as “heat deaths have been rising globally, up 23% from the 1990s to the 2010s,” the “Pacific Northwest heat dome in 2021 killed hundreds of people,” and climate change is “costing millions of lives around the world each year.” These figures directly measure progress (or lack thereof) towards reducing deaths from climate-related hazards (Target 13.1) and pollution (Target 3.9).

2. Air Quality Levels

   • Indicator: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The article explicitly mentions “microscopic particles (known as fine particulate matter, or PM2.5)” from wildfire smoke as a major health threat. Tracking PM2.5 levels, especially during wildfire seasons, serves as a direct indicator for Target 11.6.

3. Incidence of Infectious Diseases

   • Indicator: Number of locally acquired cases of vector-borne diseases. The article implies this indicator by reporting that “dengue fever has turned up in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Arizona and California” and New York saw its “first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus.” Tracking the geographic spread and incidence of such diseases measures the changing health risks mentioned in Target 3.d.

4. Share of Renewable Energy

   • Indicator: Share of renewable energy in the energy mix and government investment in clean vs. fossil fuel energy. While not providing a percentage, the article implies this indicator by contrasting the promotion of “clean energy” (solar, wind) with government actions to “subsidizing the fossil fuel industries.” The ratio of subsidies or the growth in renewable energy capacity would measure progress towards Target 7.2.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theinvadingsea.com