Markey, Solis Highlight Link Between Global Warming and Public Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chairman Edward Markey, 202-225-4081
Congresswoman Hilda L Solis, 202-225-4573
Markey, Solis Highlight Link Between Global Warming and Public Health
Introduce Resolution, Announce Hearing in Advance of Public Health Week
WASHINGTON (April 3, 2008) – In advance of National Public Health Week and World Health Day next week, Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-Cali.) of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming today introduced a resolution and announced a Congressional hearing in recognition of the critical relationship between public health and global warming.
“There are no hospitals for sick planets, and a sick planet will endanger public health across the globe,” said Markey. “What the planet and her citizens need now is to change its lifestyle and get healthy. The planet needs to cut the pollution that causes global warming, and we in Congress must do our part to heal our planet and protect the health of people everywhere.”
“For many years, the public health community and I have fought to educate the public about the impact of our environment on our health. Climate change is a proven scientific reality, and it will disproportionately affect the sick, poor, elderly, and communities of color,” said Solis. “I urge my colleagues to recognize the relationship between our climate and health and to work toward achieving climate justice.”
Markey and Solis introduced a bipartisan resolution today recognizing the connection between the changes in the world’s climate and health concerns like disease, air pollution, water supplies and quality, and other significant health effects. The resolution has 97 co-sponsors (SEE LIST BELOW).
According to the World Health Organization, climate change is a significant and emerging threat to public health. The WHO estimates that changes in the Earth’s climate may have caused at least five million cases of illness and more than 150,000 deaths in 2000, and predict these impacts are likely to increase in the future. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined that climate change contributes to the global burden of disease, premature death and other adverse health impacts due to extreme weather events, changes in infectious disease patterns, air quality, quality and quantity of water and food. Adverse health impacts of climate change also include increases in heat stress, asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chairman Markey also announced the Select Committee will hold a hearing next week exploring these pivotal issues, continuing the committee’s mandate to study and address the most pressing challenge of our generation. The hearing will be on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 and will feature preeminent experts in the field.
Monday, April 7, 2008 marks the beginning of National Public Health Week, which is sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA). In addition, April 7 is World Health Day, which is sponsored by the World Health Organization. This year, the respective themes are “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance” and “Protecting Health From Climate Change.” APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world and works to educate the public, policy-makers, and public health professionals about issues important to improving the public’s health.
To download a copy of the Markey-Solis resolution please CLICK HERE.
Co-Sponsors
1
Solis
2
Markey
3
Waxman
4
Grijalva
5
Capps
6
Farr
7
McCollum
8
Lee
9
Inslee
10
Jackson-Lee
11
McDermott
12
Christensen
13
D. Payne
14
Berman
15
Towns
16
Hinchey
17
Kucinich
18
Blumenauer
19
Honda
20
Ellison
21
Roybal-Allard
22
Rangel
23
Hirono
24
Reyes
25
Woolsey
26
Baldwin
27
Butterfield
28
Castor
29
Van Hollen
30
McGovern
31
Moran, Jim
32
Delahunt
33
Olver
34
Napolitano
35
Neal
36
Larson, John
37
Norton
38
Kildee
39
Green, Al
40
DeGette
41
Allen
42
Clarke
43
Crowley
44
George Miller
44
McNerney
45
Weiner
46
Maloney
47
Lofgren
48
Doyle
49
Harman
50
Matsui
51
Shea-Porter
52
Davis (Danny)
53
Jefferson
54
Stark
55
Tierney
56
EB Johnson
57
Hall (John)
58
Michaud
59
Rodriguez
60
Cohen
61
Hodes
62
Engel
63
Chandler
64
Lewis
65
Moore, Dennis
66
Gutierrez
67
Davis, Susan
68
Carnahan
69
Hastings (Alcee)
70
Sanchez (Linda)
71
Gordon, Bart
72
Schakowsky
73
Langevin
74
Nadler
75
Kind
76
Moore (Gwen)
77
Eshoo
78
Schiff
79
Frank
80
Tauscher
81
Bordallo
82
Sutton
83
Tsongas
84
Cleaver
85
Sestak
86
Doggett
87
Johnson (Hank)
88
Welch
89
Shays
90
Sherman
91
Green (Gene)
The Select Committee was active during the 110th and 111th Congresses. This is an archived version of the website, to ensure that the public has ongoing access to the Select Committee record. This website, including external links, will not be updated after Jan. 3rd, 2010.
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