The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released two new reports as part of a Climate and Health Series outlining expected health impacts over the next several decades related to climate change. Increases in asthma and other respiratory diseases due to worsening air pollution, heat-related illnesses and deaths due to rising temperatures, and more concentrated pollutants as drinking water supplies become impacted due to climate change are among the predictions detailed in the reports.

“Climate change is arguably the biggest health threat of this century,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “We are already experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, and it is expected that conditions will worsen over time. We have to take action now in order to lessen the effects of climate change that we will experience here in Los Angeles County. I’m proud to say that my Department is already implementing changes that will help mitigate the effects of climate change, such as reducing carbon emissions associated with our facilities and operations, and that we are building the capacity of our staff to monitor the health impacts of climate change.”

The reports reveal that:

• Temperatures in the Los Angeles region are expected to increase up to five degrees by 2050, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles. Inland areas will be particularly affected by longer and more frequent heat waves.

• Cases of vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus are expected to increase as mosquitoes move into new areas.

• Climate scientists have predicted sea level will rise along the California coast five to 24 inches from the turn of the last century to the middle of this one (2000-2050). Because of this, coastal areas could experience greater vulnerabilities due to flooding and storm surge.

“Responding to this threat requires action on the part of individuals, community groups, and local government,” said Angelo Bellomo, Director, Environmental Health Division, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Fortunately, there are practical steps that people can take now to improve their health in the short term, and help protect future generations in the long term.”

The first report in the Climate and Health Series, Your Health and Climate Change in Los Angeles County, is written for interested members of the public, including students and other individuals who would like to know more about how climate is expected to change and how these changes will affect the health of Angelenos. It presents 10 Actions You Can Take to Reduce Climate Change, which include activities like buying locally-grown produce to reduce the distance food travels from farm to table, planting shade trees to reduce the urban heat island effect, and reducing solo vehicle travel.

The second report, Framework for Addressing Climate Change in Los Angeles County, is written for local government agencies, and outlines ways those agencies can address climate change by engaging existing projects and staff. The current climate change-related activities of several County departments are described, and a template is provided that other agencies can adopt for use in their own jurisdictions.

Both reports are available online at publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh. Residents are also encouraged to visit the Office of Sustainability at green.lacounty.gov for information on what Los Angeles County is doing about climate change and energy sustainability.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises nearly 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $900 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov, visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth, find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lapublichealth, or follow us on Twitter: @LAPublicHealth.