Climate Justice Matters

Linda Rudolph, MD, MPHSeptember 20, 2015

Washington, D.C.

1. HEALTH IMPACTS

a. Potentially catastrophic for human survival

b. Undermine the last half-century of gains in development and global health

c. A medical emergency

Slide from Nick Watts, Lancet Commission on Climate Change and Health

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SOCIAL INJUSTICE IS KILLING PEOPLE ON A GRAND SCALE

WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008

http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/display.php?selected=174

People Living in Poverty

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Climate Vulnerability

46% of African Americans and 36% of Latinos reside in the two

highest risk categories compared to 30% of whites

Median income in the highest risk area is 40% lower than the lowest risk area

5English et al, Intl J Climate Change,2013

Climate Change Vulnerability in Los Angeles County Central air conditioning

Tree canopy Impervious surface Public transit routes Elderly living alone Household car access Wildfire risk Flood risk Sea rise inundation

Co-Harms?

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LCFS: Food Prices & Insecurity

Market Mechanisms: Pollution in EJ Communities

Groundwater Use: Subsidence

TOD: Gentrification

Green Jobs: Occupational RisksJob Loss

Rebates for Whom?

“We have been mortgaging the health of future generations to realise economic and development gains in the present. By unsustainably exploiting nature’s resources, human civilisation has flourished but now risks substantial health effects from the degradation of nature’s life support systems in the future.”

Lancet Commission on Planetary Health, 2015

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Climate JusticeGlobal-Local-Intergenerational

Per Capita CO2

http://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/climate-change/climate-justice

IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report

The Choices We Make Will Create Different Outcomes

With substantial mitigation

Without additional mitigation

Change in average surface temperature (1986–2005 to 2081–2100) AR5 WGI SPM

Highest levels CO2 in at least 800,000 years

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IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report

The window for action is rapidly closing

65% of our carbon budget compatible with a 2°C goal already used

Amount Used1870-2011:

515GtC

Amount Remaining:

275GtC

Total Carbon Budget:

790GtC

AR5 WGI SPM

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The Choice is Ours

2. POLICY RESPONSES FOR HEALTH

“Responding to climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century”

Slide from Nick Watts, Lancet Commission

“……if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd your G-d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the L-rd's wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the L-rd gives you.” Translation of the Shemahttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/706162/jewish/Translation.htm

"Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet's capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now.”Pope Francis, Laudato Sihttp://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=61361

Do not strut arrogantly on the earth.You will never split the earth apartnor will you ever rival the mountains’ stature.Qur’an 17: 37The world is sweet and verdant, and verily Allah has made you stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.http://islamicclimatedeclaration.org/islamic-declaration-on-global-climate-change/

Establishes goals to (by 2030): Double energy efficiency in our buildings Generate half of our electricity from renewable

sources Next time:

Reduce demand for petroleum use in vehicles by 50 percent

http://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/2015-09-11-legislature-approves-landmark-climate-legislation%E2%80%94sb-350#sthash.g3rIBBR0.dpuf

California Drivers Alliance – a program of the Western States Petroleum Associationhttp://www.californiadriversalliance.org

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Climate Action - For Health & Justice

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http://climateandhealthconnect.org/climate-and-health-alliance/