More than 200 of the world’s most respected medical journals recently joined forces to issue a joint statement urging everyone to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, which they claim is the greatest danger to the future of the United States (and the world).
At least 388 people in the United States have died due to hurricanes, floods, heatwaves, and wildfires since June.
Scientists have more and more evidence all the time that these extreme weather events are made more frequent and intense by climate change. The costs of a changing climate have been devastating across the United States this summer.
In a statement, health leaders are concerned about the effects of climate change on people’s health and well-being.
“Health is already being harmed by global temperature increases and the destruction of the natural world, a state of affairs health professionals have been bringing attention to for decades.”
“The science is unequivocal: a global increase of 1.5° C above the pre-industrial average and the continued loss of biodiversity risk catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse.
Despite the world’s necessary preoccupation with Covid-19, we cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to rapidly reduce emissions.”
Recommended Read: Stanford Climate Expert: California Wildfire, Hurricane Ida Linked with Global Warming
Additionally, according to the CDC, Texas will experience a lot of extreme weather events due to climate change over the next few decades.
“Threats are likely to increase in frequency and distribution and are likely to create significant economic burdens. For example, widespread flooding during Hurricane Harvey affected dozens of communities, including those in the Houston and Beaumont metropolitan areas.”
“Immediate effects included deaths from drowning and trauma that claimed the lives of at least 63 individuals. Additionally, more than 30,000 people were evacuated. Displacement of patients from their communities and healthcare providers led to interruptions in medical treatment.”
It’s worth mentioning that rising temperatures in the Gulf Coast contribute to the rapid spread of dangerous pathogens in bodies of water.
For example, Naegleria Fowleri, a brain-eating parasite, and Vibrio Vulnificus, a strain of flesh-eating bacteria have recently been found near Houston.
