OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE
CHANGE
Since pre-industrial times, car-
bon dioxide concentrations have
increased by 40% related to fossil
fuel burning, changes in land use,
and the release of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere (Stocker et
al., 2015). Greenhouse gas emis-
sions have continued to increase
since the middle of the last cen-
tury (EIA, 2018). The biggest im-
pact on global warming is human
activities, resulting in excess heat
trapped by greenhouse gases. In
137 years of documented temper-
atures, 2016 was the hottest year
on record. However, 16 of the 17
hottest years on record occurred
during the 21 st century (Thomp-
son, 2017). Both the National
Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration (NASA) and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration (NOAA) have reported
the same long-term projections
for global warming. According to
Climate Central (2016), the earth
is getting hotter. If emissions
continue as projected, Pennsylva-
nia may be 5.4 degrees warmer in
2050 compared to the year 2000
(Shortle et al., 2015).
As the largest solar collector on
earth, the ocean traps the extra
heat resulting from global warm-
ing, absorbing more than 90%
of the excess heat over the past
50 years (Barros & Field, 2014;
Dahlman & Lindsey, 2018). This
is significant because warmer
ocean temperatures contribute
to a rise in sea levels, increased
intensity of storms, and dam-
age to marine life eco-systems.
A slow increase in sea levels is
pushing saltwater into freshwater
wetlands along the Gulf coast
Issue 73, 2 2018 Pennsylvania Nurse 16
and eastern seaboard, which
impacts local habitats and plant
life. Coastal cities threatened by
rising sea levels, especially along
the east coast, would benefit from
reduced greenhouse gas emissions
(Hu & Bates, 2018). Global warm-
ing affects hurricane and tropical
storm activity, providing fuel for
supercharged storms. Warmer
oceans from the sun’s heat result
in more evaporation into the
atmosphere, leading to heavier
downpours and increased flooding
(NOAA, 2018). Melting ice caps
at both poles have caused the sea
levels to rise and resulted in larger
storm surges. Heavy downpours
are increasing in frequency. In
Pennsylvania, extreme down-
pours have increased 71% from
1958 to 2012 (Shortle et al., 2015).
There is concern that extreme
downpours in parts of the U.S.
may increase by as much as 400%
by the end of the century (NSF,
2016). In fact, summer 2018 had
extraordinary amounts of rainfall
and flooding in Pennsylvania.
While warming affects the ocean
temperatures, higher tempera-
tures also impact water security
on land. As soil is heated, more
ground water evaporates into
the atmosphere. Droughts have
become more intense and 40% of
the world now has some degree of
water shortage (United Nations &
World Bank, 2018). Conditions as-
sociated with climate change are
fuel for wildfires. The frequency
and intensity of wildfires and,
subsequently, the length of the
wildfire season in the U.S. have
increased since the 1970s (Ken-
ward, Sanford, & Bronzan, 2016).
Wildfires contribute to air pollu-
tion and increased health risks for
individuals with cardiovascular
conditions. In addition, loss of
life, property, and livelihood have
short- and long-term implications
for physical and emotional well-
being.
Climate change is not a political
issue. Instead, it is referred to as a
“threat multiplier” by the Penta-
gon (The Hill, 2014) as it may ex-
acerbate other threats to security,
as explained by the Department
of Defense. With higher tem-
perature, changes in sea levels,
and extreme weather events, the
continuing issues of water scar-
city and quality, hunger, poverty,
lack of natural resources, infec-
tious diseases, and violence will be
more challenging to address and
contribute to global instability.
The impact of human-induced
climate change on tempera-
ture, precipitation, and extreme
weather is driving the loss of
bio-diversity (IPBES, 2018).
Bio-diversity reflects the variety
of life forms present on the earth.
Unfortunately, bio-diversity is
demonstrating a decline in every
region of the world. This “alarm-
ing trend endangers economies,
livelihoods, food security, and the
quality of life of people every-
where” (IPBES, 2018, para.1).
IMPACT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE ON HEALTH
Global health has been impacted
by increases in average tempera-
ture and changes in precipitation,
both of which impact food and
water supplies, weather, and air
quality. Figure 1 demonstrates
examples of the impact of cli-
mate change on human health on
local, regional, or national scales.
Although evidence on the cost of