Climate Health Overview-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides
Pdf Summary
This presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Cerceo highlights the evolving threat of climate change on human health and advocates for novel approaches in medical education and healthcare systems. It outlines how climate change—predicted to increase global temperatures by 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if current trends continue—exacerbates health issues, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, and worsens existing diseases.<br /><br />Key environmental exposures covered include heat, air pollution, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and microplastics. Heat-related illnesses range from heat rash to life-threatening heat stroke, highlighting the critical need for prevention and awareness. Air pollution, from particulate matter to ozone, contributes heavily to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung cancer, and cognitive decline. For example, air pollution was linked to millions of diabetes cases and increased mortality in cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Additionally, microplastics and PFAS—ubiquitous in consumer products—act as endocrine disruptors, causing reproductive, metabolic, immune, and neurodevelopmental harms.<br /><br />The presentation emphasizes structural racism and environmental justice issues, noting that marginalized groups face heightened risks due to social determinants like housing policies and low socioeconomic status. Case studies, including a patient with repeated asthma exacerbations exacerbated by air pollution, illustrate practical implications of climate-related health threats.<br /><br />Health systems also contribute to the climate crisis via greenhouse gas emissions, prompting calls for decarbonization, stricter chemical regulations, and reduced reliance on disposables. Integrating climate health into medical education is vital—as supported by major medical societies and accreditation bodies—to equip future clinicians with knowledge to address these challenges.<br /><br />In sum, this talk stresses the urgency of addressing climate health through policy change, clinical awareness, systemic reform, and education to mitigate inequities and improve patient outcomes in a warming world.
Keywords
climate change
human health
medical education
healthcare systems
environmental exposures
heat-related illnesses
air pollution
PFAS
microplastics
environmental justice