Climate change affects your environment and your wallet
The hotter temperatures melt the glaciers which causes sea level rise. In California, sea level rise is a threat because we have 2,000 miles of coastal land. Additionally, in California warmer temperatures means less snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains where we get 75% of our water.
The heat has also made the ocean warmer and when this happens, extreme storms carry more water and strong winds that can cause storm surge on the coast and inland flooding, and can make trees fall on homes or powerlines and can do much more damage to even large wealthy cities, especially along our coasts.
Heat also causes forests to dry out and be subject to more frequent and intense wildfires, which cause air pollution in cities and rural areas. When temperatures increase, the soil dries faster and we can also have droughts, which reduce agricultural production, which eventually can cause food prices to raise.
The heat has also made the ocean warmer and when this happens, extreme storms carry more water and strong winds that can cause storm surge on the coast and inland flooding, and can make trees fall on homes or powerlines and can do much more damage to even large wealthy cities, especially along our coasts.
Heat also causes forests to dry out and be subject to more frequent and intense wildfires, which cause air pollution in cities and rural areas. When temperatures increase, the soil dries faster and we can also have droughts, which reduce agricultural production, which eventually can cause food prices to raise.
Climate change affects your health
Extreme heat can cause premature death, cardiovascular stress and failure; heat-related illnesses such as heart stroke, heat exhaustion, and kidney stones.
It can also increase the number and range of vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and malaria; water-borne diseases such as cholera and E.coli; food-borne diseases such as salmonella poisoning; harmful algae blooms; and allergies.
It creates vulnerability to wildfires and air pollution, which can in turn increase asthma, allergies, and other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Wildfires can also cause injuries and death from burns and smoke inhalation; eye and respiratory illnesses due to air pollution; asthma, allergies, and worsened respiratory diseases.
Also, more heat makes pollution from automobiles and other sources worse by creating more ozone which is unhealthy to breathe.
Severe weather, extreme rainfall, floods, and other water issues, can displace populations, cause death from drowning, injuries, damage to drinking water, waste water, and irrigation systems which can decrease the quantity and quality of the water supply and can affect agriculture.
Droughts can create hunger and malnutrition, food and water-borne diseases, and an emergence of new contagious and vector-borne diseases.
All of the effects of climate change can cause mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other conditions caused by disruption, displacement, and migration, loss of home, lives, and livelihood.
It can also increase the number and range of vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and malaria; water-borne diseases such as cholera and E.coli; food-borne diseases such as salmonella poisoning; harmful algae blooms; and allergies.
It creates vulnerability to wildfires and air pollution, which can in turn increase asthma, allergies, and other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Wildfires can also cause injuries and death from burns and smoke inhalation; eye and respiratory illnesses due to air pollution; asthma, allergies, and worsened respiratory diseases.
Also, more heat makes pollution from automobiles and other sources worse by creating more ozone which is unhealthy to breathe.
Severe weather, extreme rainfall, floods, and other water issues, can displace populations, cause death from drowning, injuries, damage to drinking water, waste water, and irrigation systems which can decrease the quantity and quality of the water supply and can affect agriculture.
Droughts can create hunger and malnutrition, food and water-borne diseases, and an emergence of new contagious and vector-borne diseases.
All of the effects of climate change can cause mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other conditions caused by disruption, displacement, and migration, loss of home, lives, and livelihood.
Climate change affects some people more than others
Although we are all somewhat vulnerable to climate change, some communities and populations are more at risk, and have fewer resources to prepare and recover when key events take place, like storms. Communities of color, immigrants and those without resources already experience many challenges through poor housing, lack of jobs, pollution and health conditions. The elderly population is growing rapidly in California, and many of them have chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes and respiratory illness. Young children can be at risk for heat and air pollution. So as you see, climate change is also a social justice issue.