In this episode of CPR’s Connect the Dots, host Rob Verchick and his guests explore how climate change is impacting our health.
When we consider the climate crisis, our attention often gravitates toward extreme weather. We worry about wildfires burning our homes and hurricanes ripping down powerlines. There’s another side of the story, however — our health. From how we feel after a long run to the ability of our bodies to ward off illness, the environment makes a difference.
Climate disruption invades our neighborhoods, and some are hit harder than others. Poor air quality results in unsafe living conditions and can lead to illnesses like asthma or even cancer. Extreme heat makes it hard for kids to play outside. Flooding and wildfires spread debris, bacteria, and toxic chemicals. Warmer temperatures prompt insects to migrate north, carrying infectious diseases to new areas. And that’s only the beginning.
Listen below, or return to the main Connect the Dots page.
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For more information related to this episode…
More on Our Guests:
 | Howard Frumkin is senior vice president with the Trust for Public Land and a professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health. View bio. |
 | Ilan Kelman is a professor of disasters and health at University College London. View bio. |
 | Carter Mathes is a professor at Rutgers University and long-time resident of East Orange, New Jersey. View bio. |
Related CPR Resources:
- CPR webinar: Climate Justice: Vulnerability and Resilience to COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis
- CPRBlog posts on climate change
Other resources:
- The New York Times: “How Climate Change May Affect Your Health,” and “As Climate Change Fears Grow, a Real Fight Over Fake Turf“
- USA Today: “Climate change, heat waves affect heart health, experts say. Here’s why that puts people of color at higher risk.“
- Scientific American: “We Need a National Institute of Climate Change and Health“
- National Institutes of Health: “The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Mental and Physical Health of Low-Income Parents in New Orleans“
- NASA Earth Observatory: “Green Space is Good for Mental Health“
- World Resources Institute: “5 Big Ideas to Address the Climate Crisis and Inequality in Cities“
Special thanks to:
- The College of Law at Loyola University New Orleans
- The College of Music and Media at Loyola University New Orleans
We’re also grateful to the musical artists featured in this episode, who make their work available to us through a Creative Commons license. Please check them out!
