M12.9 Blog: Climate Change

  • What do you personally find most troubling about climate change?
What I find troubling about climate change is how fast the Earth is warming up and why aren't people concerned about it. As we know there are skeptics out there who believe climate change is a myth, something made up to scare people. But in reality, people should be scared. In one article that I read it mentioned by the year 2500 sea levels will rise 50 feet! That is amazing and quite scary. Many coastlines will be severely affected which will force people to move inland causing other ripple effects of loss of land. Sea levels are what I find most troubling. I've heard how one island country, the Maldives might not be around the next 100 years which is troubling because we should not be losing precious land so soon. I personally want to travel there to witness its crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches but with the land slowly sinking I might have to go sooner than later. 
  • As a public health professional, what do you think needs the greatest attention right now?
I think air quality is of greatest attention right now. Across the world we are seeing air quality drop for various reasons. In Asia, pollution is the source of poor air quality. Those living in rural areas in China are suffering from respiratory infections and diseases that could be prevented if the air quality was not so poor. Currently, recent fires have created poor air quality for us who live in the bay area. Today for example we have severe poor air quality which is colored red. Those who are susceptible to asthma, young and old should not be outside. I currently have a mask on because the air quality on my floor is bad and I battling a cold which breathing in the smoke will not help me get better. If we could focus on how to eliminate air pollution and find ways to get rid of dry brush our air qualities could improve. 
  • If you were visiting with a long-lost relative who had never heard about climate change, how would you describe it and its attendant human health and ecological threats?
Currently, I have family members who are uneducated and know absolutely anything public health related. When I try and talk to them on public health issues I always look like the liberal, trying to save the world how do you know this type of information girl. How I would address this issue though would be trying to describe it in terms that they would understand and any little thing helps to prevent climate change. Composting, buying electric cars, buying organic. Small changes can make the biggest differences. 

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 11, 2018 at 7:06 PM

    I agree! This post is timely given the fires up north and the air quality in the San Francisco Bay. People often say that climate change doesn't feel real because it isn't affecting our everyday life, but this is a perfect example of it affecting us now! It's mid-November and our state is currently on fire. It seems that "fire season" might become year-round.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DougNovember 19, 2018 at 9:17 PM

    I totally agree! It's so crazy to me that climate change is such a political topic when it shouldn't be at all. Everyone should be able to agree that climate change is real, and it shouldn't even be a political debate. It's unfortunate that it is!

    ReplyDelete

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