Public Health Group Announces Climate Change Initiative
On
Nov. 6, the American Public Health Association (APHA) announced a major
new initiative addressing climate change and America's health. Over the
next six months public health experts will develop a list of key
recommendations on the health impacts of climate change, and next
April. 50,000 APHA members in communities across the nation will
observe National Public Health Week 2008 with the theme "Climate
Change: Our Health in the Balance."
"Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats
facing our nation," said Georges C. Benjamin, M.D., executive director
of APHA. "Yet few Americans are aware of the very real consequences of
climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our
children."
Between now and April, APHA will coordinate a national conversation
among public health experts and policy-makers to develop a list of key
recommendations for dealing with the health impacts of climate change.
"While a number of efforts have addressed various aspects of public
health and climate change, until now the approach has been scattered,"
Benjamin said. "Next April, a formal list of recommendations for
addressing this unprecedented challenge will be distributed to every
public health professional in the nation. We will focus on the United
States, but recognize it is a global concern."
The announcement comes in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the
American Public Health Association, which attracts more than 13,000
national and international public health professionals, including
physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers,
epidemiologists, practitioners and related health specialists.
For more information, contact APHA at http://www.apha.org.