GRAPHICS:

Certain populations are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and disproportionately experience health harms from it widening existing health disparities. This graphic shows how four people in an urban area are impacted by a heatwave, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, to highlight examples of vulnerability and adaptation.

Climate change poses risks to children through their development. Here we present a few examples of how climate change harms health from before birth to adolescence.

Map of annual million potential person hours lost per cell based on % service sector working at 200W, % of industry sector working at 300W and % agricultural sector working at 400W with 3 million hours per cell-year, assuming all work in direct sun.

This index highlights abnormally hot or cold days over the contiguous 48 states. As an example, a heat wave index of 0.2 could mean that 20% of the country had one heatwave, 10% experienced two heatwaves, etc.

2018e is an estimated 2018 value. Energy CO2 estimates included in these economy-wide GHG numbers are calculated using EIA, rather then EPA
methodology, and thus include transportation fuels for interntational travel and a number of other minor differences.

Populations especially vulnerable are children, older adults, pregnant women, those with chronic medical conditions, those with lower socioeconomic status, outdoor workers, and racial minorities.

Heat exposure in the U.S. is increasing as hot days and extreme heatwaves become more frequent.

The EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI) assess air quality on a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500, where higher
numbers indicate greater levels of air pollution. For PM2.5, the AQI has set a goal level of 100 or below. When levels become 101-150, it is felt to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory diseases. Any level above 151 is felt to be unhealthy for all individuals.

(Vibrio parahaemolyticus,
V. vulnificus, and non-toxigenic V. cholerae (non-O1/non-O139)) Outbreak.

Indicator Based on Total CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Combustion Divided by Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES).