Climate change and health in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Abstract

This paper assesses potential health impacts from climate change in the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR). It draws on diverse sources of information including health statistics and current climate and health literature. Climate projections for 2030 and 2095 from the Hadley Centre for Climate Pre- diction and Research and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis are used. They indi- cate a warmer, wetter and possible stormier climate for the MAR. Morbidity and mortality from extreme events may increase somewhat. Although more speculative, climate change could increase the region's risk from water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The region's current and future health infrastructure are expected to be able to respond to the health risks, although at increased cost from measures to pro- tect the safety of food and water, control disease vectors, and provide health services. The elderly and those with limited access to health care could be disproportionately affected.