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Health Implications of Climate Change & Global Warming: Importance of Sustainable PracticesㅣHaley.

Since the mark of human civilization, the climate has evidently altered a range of both observed long-term and short term effects. The last 650,000 years, which have been primarily driven by human consumption of nonrenewable resources through the manufacturing sector, have been characterized by seven noted cycles of glacial activity- all attributing factors to the ever-growing influence of climate change. Climate change refers to the long-term shift in weather patterns that varies on a spectrum from specific to broad: local, regional, and global. In summary, the energy obtained from the sun via solar energy determines all climates on Earth. How much is received in terms of absorption depends on the variation of atmospheric conditions and human implications. Global warming is a similar aspect of climate change; however, they cannot be used interchangeably. Global warming occurs when air-pollutants such as carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases cause an increase in solar radiation to be released on Earth. Such changes in these concentrations consequently entail a myriad of health problems as a direct result of rising sea levels, natural disasters, changes of precipitation, heatwaves, degraded air quality, migration of disease, etc. While these health effects can be mitigated or lessened in terms of impact on the human body, certain precautions and sustainability practices must be adopted to protect the lives of future generations and the development of the environment as a whole.

Air pollution is defined by the release and emission of pollutants and other hazardous substances into the air derived from human-made or natural sources. Fuel sources, by-products of manufacturing, power generators, power-plants, vehicle emissions, and nonrenewable resources are prime examples of human-made pollution. In contrast, smoke, ashes, and gas emission from volcanoes, fires, and methane from the soil are examples of nature released air pollution. Changes in climate change due to air pollution can lead to a difference in air quality, presenting numerous challenges for the environment's future. As the ozone layer in the atmosphere plays a role in warming the Earth, greenhouse gases produced by carbon emissions and carbon footprints contribute to climate change by leading to a warmer temperature, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and transmission of infectious diseases. From the greenhouse effect, climate change results from the atmosphere trapping heat radiating from the Earth, the amount of heat-reflecting the total gas emissions traveling through the form of heat. An EPA study in 2014 found that carbon dioxide was responsible for 81% of the US's greenhouse gas emissions while the rest was a combined total of hydrofluorocarbons, black carbon (PM2.5), and methane. These gases are a precursor to human health implications. They all contribute to the ground-level ozone and particulate air matter, responsible for respiratory disease, asthma, allergen, and air-pollution premature deaths. With 7 million premature deaths per year due to the aftermath of air pollution and decreased lung function of young children, new sustainable policies must be put in place to reduce air pollution and the effects of climate change. To improve air quality, the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies states that the economy's decarbonization alone will reduce carbon dioxide. Still, it will not be enough to maintain the air quality or climate and will require furthermore reduction of additional sectors of all carbon emissions: hydrofluorocarbons, methane, black carbon. The best sustainable practices to reduce air pollution are decreasing carbon footprints by driving fewer cars, saving energy and light, utilizing more renewable energy, minimizing factories and power plants and their carbon emissions- society can then achieve cleaner air.

Researchers and other public health professionals have found a direct link between extreme weather patterns and climate change throughout the decades. While not all severe weather occurrences account for climate change, studies have shown that climate change worsens weather events' frequency, intensity, and impact. Climate projections in the US alone have spiked an increase of heat-stroke related conditions and death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and respiratory illnesses due to extreme waves of heat-intense weather. Furthermore, increased urbanization has led to high-intensity heat islands as heat from infrastructure absorbs and re-emit the sun's rays, contributing to global warming. Heatwaves have been reported to be a risk factor for those with mental health and stress-related illnesses such as dementia and schizophrenia, as they lead to hospitalization due to rising temperatures and have been noted to cause increased suicidal rates and interference with medications. Sustainable practices have been implemented in many high-density locations around the US (Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Dever) by planting/installing trees and vegetative areas. This will decrease air temperatures, provide shade, increase exposure to cooling through evapotranspiration, and as a bonus- improve air quality by lowering concentrations of carbon dioxide. On the other side of the spectrum, climate change is responsible for harsh freezing weather. The explanation is that warmer land temperatures transport warm air towards the polar sides of the Earth, causing stratospheric warming and an increase in cold-latitude temperatures as an attempt to destabilize the polar vortex. Associated health complications include cold-related illnesses, frostbite, hypothermia, cardiovascular issues, impaired blood flow, and metabolic functions, all of which can cause long-term damage or death. In response to this crisis, there are many sustainability practices recommended during the winter seasons—alternative transportation and vehicle inspections and layering clothes instead of using heat-electronic-based sources to reduce carbon emissions. Doing so can decrease carbon footprints in response to climate change and reduce the chances of obtaining frostbite and other cold-related illnesses.

According to National Ocean Service, sea levels have been on a gradual rise concerning climate change since 1900 at a steady rate of .04 to .1 inches per year. While many theories have formulated around the increase in sea levels, scientists have pinpointed their findings to two different mechanisms: thermal expansion of seawater and glacial melting prompted by global warming. Due to climate change, the volume of ice melting in the polar regions has accelerated with 199 billion tons of ice loss from Antarctica and 247 billion tons of ice loss from the Greenland ice sheets from 2012-2016. As a result of the newfound accumulation of water obtained from the ice, groundwater, water-storage units, and aquifers, the amount has doubled the global sea rise rate from 1.4 mm per year to 3.6 mm from 2006-2015. The fact of the matter is that in the US alone, 40% of the population are left vulnerable to rising sea levels- the people found in high population density coastal regions. Accompanying climate change and sea-levels also bring heavy flooding and extreme precipitation as warmer temperatures allow for more evaporation of water and, therefore, more retainment of water in the air for heavier downpours.

Floods, which are the second-deadliest of all-weather hazards, account for 98 deaths per year in the US due to tropical storms and rising sea-levels. Flooded areas that contain a measure of damaged infrastructure may cause physical injuries to both humans and wildlife. In addition to damaged property, water intrusion into homes and buildings can lead to mold contamination and air quality issues. Individuals are more likely to have an increased prevalence of asthma, coughing, wheezing (signs of respiratory infection), and more severe conditions such as pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, and RSV pneumonia. As waters rise, the quality and safety of our recreational water supply are placed at risk for potentially becoming contaminated- harboring waterborne microbes, bacteria, parasites, as well as waste-water and other sources of pollutants. Diarrheal diseases become a risk for young children, the elderly, and immuno-compromised people. Common marine bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus can contact food and drinking water. Extreme rainfall creates ideal environments for waterborne/vector-borne diseases such as salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis; these pathogens transmit differently based on seasonal fluctuations and migration patterns. Changing climates towards certain geographical regions influence the transmission and distribution of diseases from vectors such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes that can carry certain illnesses such as Lyme disease, Dengue fever, West-Nile virus, Chagas disease, etc. Although it may seem like a challenge to combat sustainable practices against climate change directly, some ways can decrease the chances of a flood and its aftermath. Green infrastructure practices utilize rain gardens, permeable pavements, and bioswales to absorb rainfall and flooding and prevent flooding into infrastructure. By reducing the amount of localized flooding from overwhelmed drainage pipes and floodplains, green infrastructure can be sustainably built and used to control storm flooding, and therefore diminish the chance of waterborne illnesses. Additionally, more private wells from localized companies or farmers could be sustainably used to decrease the waste plant emissions and the threat of water contamination in urban areas.

The extent of wildfires across the globe has become dependent on several risk factors: temperature, soil, energy fuel- all of which are impacted by climate change. Studies have shown that climate change, which acts as a fuel source to the fires, has created ideal warm and dry conditions for fires to thrive due to increased water loss from plants and vegetation (drought conditions). While only 20% of fires directly resulted from nature, 80% were caused by human activity, and further prolonged/lengthened due to these conditions. In the United States, wildfires burned double the amount of land from 2000-2018 than in 1985-1999. As climate change continues to warm the Earth, more wildfires are likely to occur and subside over the decades. In terms of health impacts, wildfire smoke contains carbon monoxide emissions, nitrogen oxide, and various organic compounds that degrade the air quality and can be harmful to those with respiratory illnesses and ailments such as asthma. Exposure to smoke can lead to hospitalization for respiratory and cardiovascular reasons and can lead to death.

Furthermore, the addition of drought and wildfires threaten food production globally, affecting food prices due to the law of supply and demand. Additionally, crop yields continue to decline from severe weather events, food security, and, as a result, cause a decline in low-income and homeless populations. To improve food security through sustainable practices, many have used irrigation systems, limited food waste, and used more sustainable farming and agriculture. Although some sustainable practices for wildfires have been put in place by forest fire management and fire prevention forces, they have been known to cause more harm to the environment. The increased use of fire prevention has led to the expansion of flammable fuelwood, which has led to the enhancement of wildfires. To stop these wildfires, we must sustainably find a way to cook food, warm homes, and light objects without fire. Moreover, many countries have adopted fire safety policies such as selectively thinning and harvesting crowded trees in over-accumulated areas that are more susceptible to wildfires to prevent them. Because humans cause many wildfires incidents, countries should implement more sustainable practices that will avoid fires and diminish them without increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air.

Why does sustainability matter? Why is it even necessary in relevance to climate change? Throughout the essay, there were references to various health implications resulting from climate change and sustainable ways to mitigate such health concerns. Today, most of the global population has transitioned into a modern consumerist society, a developed world that consumes an abundance of natural resources (40% of all resources we use can not be replenished or replaced). The World Summit in 2005 developed the "Three Pillars of Sustainability," which identified core areas of philosophy and environmental science to restructure sustainability in economic, social, and environmental development. The World Summit on Social Development and the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) have re-defined "sustainability" on their terms, in hopes of achieving a cleaner environment and improved health. Sustainability does not just refer to the environment, but it also entails the long-term effects of human health regarding the environment's international legislation.

In summary, to answer why sustainability is crucial: we can not continue our quality of life as humans on planet Earth until we address and correct the issues facing the planet today. Evidence suggests that Earth will experience a more extensive ordeal of issues: fossil fuels and natural resources will become exhausted, millions of species will become extinct, the atmosphere will become damaged, and humans will die each day from the health implications of the ever-changing environment- all because society refuses to see the clear signs of climate change. To see an impactful change occurring in the world today, one must apply knowledge and science through sustainability practices to heal the planet from the evolving destruction of climate change in a positive fashion. The expression "think big" has been thrown around too much in society, when the simple solution to the problem is to think little: making a difference starts with oneself! Achieving core issues with sustainable practices as an individual allows for one less carbon footprint: the average carbon footprint for one person in the US is 16 tons. Start by using public transportation, conserving energy, switching to renewable energy, growing produce in vegetative areas, etc. These efforts to spread the awareness of climate change through sustainability adaptations will all contribute to improving human health and allow for new results to positively affect planet Earth for the better.


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