The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that climate change is a danger to public health, an idea that President Donald Trump called “a scam.” However, numerous scientific studies document the undeniable impacts of climate change on health.
Countless research studies have shown increasing disease and mortality rates attributed to a warming world, with thousands dying every year due to its effects.
The original finding by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2009, established during the Obama administration, has underpinned many of the regulations aimed at combating global warming.
Experts argue that thousands have fallen ill, and many more have died in the U.S. alone due to climate change. A recent study published in JAMA revealed that yearly heat-related deaths have surged from 1,069 in 1999 to a record 2,325 in 2023.
Research from 2021 indicated that more than a third of heat fatalities globally are attributed to human-induced climate change, estimating over 9,700 deaths annually caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
In light of the growing body of evidence, experts maintain that the risks to public health from climate change are escalating, a sentiment echoed by notable public health authorities and health researchers.
Dr. Howard Frumkin, a professor emeritus of public health, criticized the administration's decision as scientifically baseless, equating it to denying fundamental scientific principles.
As global temperatures continue to rise, the health implications are expected to grow, affecting waterborne diseases, mental health, and food security, highlighting the urgent need for action against climate change.
