1/ Colin Powell warned that HIV/AIDS posed “a clear and present danger to the world," that it was a global security issue.
Today the White House, Pentagon & intelligence agencies warn that climate change is a global security threat.
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
Today the White House, Pentagon & intelligence agencies warn that climate change is a global security threat.
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
2/
- China & others could take advantage of rising seas & melting glaciers
- drought & other extreme weather can spark conflicts and forced displacement—countries like China & Russia are poised to take advantage
- China & others could take advantage of rising seas & melting glaciers
- drought & other extreme weather can spark conflicts and forced displacement—countries like China & Russia are poised to take advantage
3/ 11 countries in that category of acute risk: Afghanistan, Colombia*, Guatemala*, Haiti*, Honduras*, India, Iraq, Myanmar, North Korea, Nicaragua* & Pakistan.
* half in our backyard
* half in our backyard
4/ Meanwhile, climate change is set to become the “defining narrative of human health.”
thelancet.com/countdown-heal…
War, famine, drought, natural disasters, disease outbreaks to dwarf SARS-CoV-2:
washingtonpost.com/climate-enviro…
thelancet.com/countdown-heal…
War, famine, drought, natural disasters, disease outbreaks to dwarf SARS-CoV-2:
washingtonpost.com/climate-enviro…
5/
- higher rates of heat illness➡️farmworkers to collapse in fields & elderly people to die in their apartments
- insects carrying tropical diseases have multiplied and spread
- more plant pollen in the air➡️asthma
- extreme flooding➡️cholera & other waterborne diseases
- higher rates of heat illness➡️farmworkers to collapse in fields & elderly people to die in their apartments
- insects carrying tropical diseases have multiplied and spread
- more plant pollen in the air➡️asthma
- extreme flooding➡️cholera & other waterborne diseases
6/
- wildfire smoke spreading from CA to TX, OH, NY
- droughts intensify➡️crops fail➡️famine
- record-high temperatures in Pacific NW➡️69x higher patients in ER in 2021 than 2019
- wildfire smoke spreading from CA to TX, OH, NY
- droughts intensify➡️crops fail➡️famine
- record-high temperatures in Pacific NW➡️69x higher patients in ER in 2021 than 2019
7/
- worsening El Niño weather patterns➡️millions of kids will go hungry
- air pollution➡️10s of 1000s of early deaths among Americans per year
- Amazon warming/deforestation➡️~11 million exposed to lethal heat by the end of 21st century
- worsening El Niño weather patterns➡️millions of kids will go hungry
- air pollution➡️10s of 1000s of early deaths among Americans per year
- Amazon warming/deforestation➡️~11 million exposed to lethal heat by the end of 21st century
8/
- drought in Madagascar➡️more than 1 million people starving
- flash floods in Niger➡️exacerbating cholera epidemic
- drought in Madagascar➡️more than 1 million people starving
- flash floods in Niger➡️exacerbating cholera epidemic
9/
- people sick from mold in their homes after hurricane/flood
- fungal illnesses on the rise, including antimicrobial-resistant Candida auris, Cryptococcus gattii, Coccidioides
- people sick from mold in their homes after hurricane/flood
- fungal illnesses on the rise, including antimicrobial-resistant Candida auris, Cryptococcus gattii, Coccidioides
10/
- mosquitoes, and with them, infectious diseases are spreading: Zika, chikungunya, malaria, dengue
- diarrheal diseases on the rise
- mosquitoes, and with them, infectious diseases are spreading: Zika, chikungunya, malaria, dengue
- diarrheal diseases on the rise
11/
“Those who are being the most affected by the problem are those contributing least to the phenomenon of climate change,” he said. “That’s the thing we should all be staying awake at night thinking about.”
- Lachlan McIver, Doctors Without Borders
“Those who are being the most affected by the problem are those contributing least to the phenomenon of climate change,” he said. “That’s the thing we should all be staying awake at night thinking about.”
- Lachlan McIver, Doctors Without Borders
12/ Two decades ago, Colin Powell warned that HIV/AIDS posed “a clear and present danger to the world."
Today that threat is climate change.
Will we take action? Or will we prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term consequences?
I fear the latter.
Today that threat is climate change.
Will we take action? Or will we prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term consequences?
I fear the latter.
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