As a veteran of the armed services, I couldn’t be more excited for this year’s Fourth of July. But, as a lung doctor training in Philadelphia, I can’t ignore the extreme heat looming over this week, especially as our country abdicates its role in fighting the public health threat posed by climate change.
There is so much that Philadelphians should look forward to this week. From concerts to parades, there is an incredible smattering of events lined up to help mark the holiday weekend all across the city. And there’s plenty we should celebrate as Americans. We should be proud of our country’s innovation, our diversity, and our principled history devoted to justice and liberty. And nowhere in the country should this be more palpable than Philadelphia – at the very birthplace of our country’s constitution in the colonial Keystone State.
But, despite our collective historical success and current potential, we are falling shamefully short of meeting the challenge of climate change.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chose to unleash greenhouse gas pollution with its repeal of the Endangerment Finding. The Endangerment Finding was born from the Clean Air Act over 15 years ago, and it gave the EPA power to regulate six of the most worrisome greenhouse gasses that cause climate change. It had been tested, and upheld consistently, in court challenges. It has been validated by geologists and lauded by public health experts. But now, in a gob smacking 180-degree turn, the EPA has reneged on its own policy protecting us from a destabilizing climate.
And that’s not all. In the past year, the EPA has mounted a stunning assault on our environment – the very environment it is supposed to protect. It has offered exemptions to coal plants, coke ovens, and toxic facilities that pollute the air. It has rolled back emission standards for our vehicles. It even plans to suspend the reporting of all greenhouse gas emissions, which will paralyze any attempt to effectively address climate change.
Do you know the problem with getting people to care about climate change? It’s subtle. The changes in weather start small and take time to build before it becomes obvious.
Every challenge is an opportunity, and climate change is no different. We can heal the planet while healing ourselves in the process. We can lead our city, the country, and the world in the pursuit of a healthier and happier future.
But this week, the impact of letting climate change run rampant will be anything but subtle. The National Weather Service has issued a regional extreme heat watch through the holiday weekend, with heat indices expected to reach up to 110 degrees. This will challenge Philadelphia’s all-time heat record from 1966. And it doesn’t take a doctor to remind us that this is not the kind of record we want to break.
As heat increases, people become dehydrated and can suffer heat-related injury. We’re already seeing incidents of heat stroke in the city. Heat also creates smog which dirties the air and irritates the lungs. Warmer, drier conditions worsen particulate pollution as heavier traffic emissions poison the air with volatile organic compounds.
This combination of heat and poor air quality can trigger respiratory symptoms even in healthy individuals. More than just chest tightness or coughing spells, studies show that increased exposure to smog can even cause children to develop asthma. For those with pre-existing conditions, it can trigger flare-ups of emphysema and exacerbations of heart failure. Over time, poor air quality also increases our risk for cancers and other diseases.
Tragically, these health risks disproportionately threaten those who are young, pregnant, or older in age because of natural changes in physiology. Philadelphians living in poorer areas of the city not only have less reliable access to air conditioning, but these same neighborhoods suffer from the urban heat island effect which can increase their street’s summertime temperatures by an additional 10 degrees compared to the rest of the city.
But no matter who you are or where you live, we’re all going to be feeling the heat of a changing climate this week. It shouldn’t keep us from joining our communities and celebrating. But as we commemorate our history while dodging oppressive humidity, this week will be a stark reminder that our EPA and many elected officials are increasingly avoiding an ecological call to action. This call listens for our response in every vote, especially as this year’s midterm elections approach.
Every challenge is an opportunity, and climate change is no different. We can heal the planet while healing ourselves in the process. We can lead our city, the country, and the world in the pursuit of a healthier and happier future.
And, above all, we can celebrate 250 years of greatness while demanding that our officials correct the American standard in climate action.
Eric Balaban is a nine-year veteran of the Army National Guard and a practicing physician in north Philadelphia. He is subspecializing in pulmonary and critical care with formal training in climate change-related health risks.
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