International Researchers Discuss Climate Change Risks To Humans

By Julianne LaJeunesse - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

In a cross-Atlantic satellite panel discussion Wednesday, the National Institute of Health and top British researchers and health experts discussed a Lancet publication released today that highlights the impacts of climate change on human lives - an effort which the collaborators hope will further domestic and international policy on greenhouse gas and carbon emissions.

President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told participants via a video recording that greenhouse gases affect more than just the environment, and that even if climate change wasn’t documented and known, the NIH would still be very concerned with greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.

“We know that depending on coal-powered plants that spew greenhouse gases is bad for our planet, but it’s also bad for our health,” Sebelius said. “We know that the growing share of meat in our diet is bad for our planet...[and] we know that depending on gas-guzzling cars is bad for our planet, but it’s also bad for our health since it can lead us to get less exercise.”

Sebelius carefully noted that coal plants, meat consumption, and vehicle use are “bad for our planet” when overused, but conserving resources, according to some study participants, will require policy changes.

James Woodcock, who represented the transportation section of The Lancet publication, said that in order to reduce vehicle use, walking and cycling must become more pleasant.

“If you’re talking about large increases in walking, cycling, and large reductions in car use, then you need to talk about policies that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over those of motorists,” he said.

Those policies will need to be implemented on a country by country basis, and public support for domestic policy was encouraged by U.K. Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham, who said “when the world comes together in Copenhagen, in just a couple of weeks time, it will be essential that we strike a deal that is equal to the challenge that we face.”