The Oregon Health Authority has released a new 2016 Climate and Health Resilience Plan to guide the state's public health workforce in taking action on climate change.
The plan builds on the findings of the 2014 Oregon Climate and Health Profile Report, which warned of increased risk of injury, illness and death associated with rising temperatures, more extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, and disruptions in our local economies and social safety net systems.
Since the first report was published, Oregon has seen its hottest year on record. It also has experienced its lowest snowpack on record, followed by heavy snows this year. The state had one of the most severe fire seasons in modern history and most counties declared drought emergencies. The third Oregon Climate Assessment Report published by the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute last week shows Oregon continuing to experience more extreme weather events and confirmed that the health of Oregonians is threatened.
"The changes we are all seeing in Oregon include more extreme weather events along with conditions that could affect our access to clean air, clean water, and healthy food," said Lillian Shirley, Oregon Public Health Division director.
The Climate and Health Resilience Plan released today outlines a set of recommendations for the state's Public Health Division, local and tribal health departments, and community partners. The recommendations were developed with the help of local health departments, partner state agencies, academic institutions, and other community partners. Collaboration with state agencies is emphasized as a key way to advance strategies in other sectors. A recent assessment of Oregon's public health system found that Oregon is not equipped to handle the emerging environmental risks. The vast majority of local health departments report only partial to minimal ability to identify and prevent environmental health hazards.
While the challenges are complex and far-reaching, Shirley said, work is already being done to prepare.
"Together with partners, the Public Health Division is building resilience to multiple climate hazards and stressors, while also doubling down on public health efforts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions," she said.
For example, interventions that strengthen local food systems and promote more walkable communities not only benefit human health by improving access to healthy food and places for physical activity, but they also improve air quality and benefit the atmosphere.
Although the plan is geared toward people working in public health, everyone in Oregon can take action on the recommended strategies. Community members can learn to be "change agents" in their respective workplaces, neighborhoods and communities. The plan emphasizes the importance of strengthening partnerships and prioritizing strategies that benefit multiple partners or advance multiple goals.
Oregon's Climate and Health Program, which is part of the Public Health Division's Environmental Public Health Section, has started leading a collaborative of health departments across the state to take action.
Charlie Fautin, chairman of the Conference of Local Health Officials and public health director at the Benton County Health Department, says the collaborations encouraged in the Climate and Health Resilience Plan are key to ensuring communities are ready to prepare for and respond to climate change.
"Working with our public and private sector partners to prevent and prepare for climate change will further enable us to address some of the root causes of health inequities and preventable diseases in Oregon," he said.
For more information visit the division's climate change website at http://www.healthoregon.org/climatechange.
Source: News release Oregon Health Authority