Climate change is the most urgent public health threat that we as health professionals should act on for the health of our patients, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Why climate change matters for health in Wisconsin

Climate change is the greatest public health threat of the 21st century, according to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, with recent alarming increases in the rate of global warming directly threatening public health. Widespread and rapid changes have led to adverse health outcomes disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities as is summarized extensively in the 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  Extreme heat kills more Wisconsinites than any other weather disasters and is expected to become more frequent and last longer in the future. Likewise, flooding is expected to become more frequent and intense.

Our perspective as physicians

Health care professionals care about how climate change is affecting their patients’ health and their communities. Wisconsin Environmental Health Network is actively involved in advocacy to reduce fossil fuels and transition to clean renewable energy. Since healthcare itself contributes about 9% of the US greenhouse gas emissions, health care professionals can also advocate within their healthcare systems to reduce emissions and become more sustainable.

  • Air quality is affected by both climate change and burning fossil fuels, both which affect health. Dry hot conditions exacerbate drought and create ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite. Wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles affecting air quality far from the source. Extended growing seasons increase allergenic pollen from trees, grasses, molds, and ragweed, threatening the health of those with asthma and allergies. 

    Pollutants from vehicles, industrial operations, and burning wood, coal, or methane gas are estimated to cause 1,900 premature deaths, 34,400 cases of asthma exacerbation, and 650 heart attacks yearly in Wisconsin. Switching to 100% clean renewable energy would reduce air pollution and save $21 billion in healthcare costs every year. Public input by health professionals on proposed energy projects can have an impact as a trusted voice.

    Air quality is also affected by ground ozone, which is formed from a reaction between pollutants and heat. More information can be found through the American Lung Association page on ozone.

  • As Wisconsin experiences more frequent and intense health waves, the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate change Impacts (WICCI) predicts an annual increase of 20-30 days with 90-plus degrees Fahrenheit over the next 50 years. Several days of extreme heat with high humidity cause deadly heat-related illness. Public cooling centers provide relief during extreme heat events for those who don’t have access to air conditioning.

  • Mosquito and tick populations are both affected by climate change, and may increase vector-borne illness. With warmer winters, mosquitos may survive longer and lengthen the time that West Nile virus can spread. New mosquito species could bring in Chikungunya and Dengue Fever in years to come.

    Tick populations, including numbers and where they live, may also be affected by climate change. Deer ticks are mostly in northwestern Wisconsin, but they are spreading to northeastern and southern areas of the state. While Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are the two most common tickborne diseases, Lyme disease cases have tripled in the last 15 years. For more information visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

  • Floods are the most common natural disaster in Wisconsin and cause a myriad of health effects including injuries, communicable disease, increased mold growth in homes, and mental health effects of property damage or loss. Drinking water contamination can cause outbreaks of diarrheal illness like campylobacter and legionella. More can be learned from this Wisconsin Watch article.

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