by Kirsten Minor
As a public health professional, I feel I must speak out on last month’s Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA. The decision complicates the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, even as Justice Elena Kagan calls climate change “the most pressing environmental challenge of our time.” There’s no other way to say it: this is a major setback for federal-level action addressing air pollution and climate.
But even with federal action delayed, North Carolinians can still mobilize at the local and state levels. And as luck would have it, we have a major opportunity this year to reshape North Carolina’s clean energy future through the ongoing state Carbon Planning process.
We’ll need significant interagency collaboration and an activated and engaged public providing input to ensure a strong, equitable Carbon Plan centered around public health.
So what exactly is the health significance of WV v. EPA, and how does it relate to North Carolina’s developing Carbon Plan?
Source: North Carolina Greenhouse Gas Inventory, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
The burning of fossil fuels, primarily in our transportation and electricity sectors, remains the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and is the greatest threat to both our climate and global public health. Fossil fuel combustion also emits other dangerous air pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide.
And if that weren’t enough, climate change also amplifies the health risks of air pollution exposure; it increases risk for the onset and exacerbation of both infectious and noncommunicable diseases, worsening health disparities and impacts the entire human body.
Each year approximately 8.7 million people die worldwide due to air pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion.³² In fact, exposure to air pollution is one of the primary risk factors for premature death.³³ In North Carolina, 9 out of the 10 leading causes of death are caused by or exacerbated by air pollution: 1) heart disease, 2) cancer, 3) COVID-19, 4) stroke, 5) chronic lower respiratory diseases, 6) alzheimer’s disease, 7) diabetes, 8) kidney disease, and 9) influenza/pneumonia.³⁴
The number of deaths directly or indirectly associated with climate change are more difficult to estimate. Still, the World Health Organization’s declaration that climate change is “the single biggest health threat facing humanity” should be taken seriously, with subsequent legislative actions to mitigate threats and risks to the public.³⁵
Climate change threatens the affordability, accessibility, and availability of basic human needs including global food security, infrastructure (e.g. housing, education, legal, transportation, waste management, and sanitation), and the healthcare systems and medical supply chain that are essential for human life.
And while exposure to air pollution and climate change impacts us all, the threats are not shared equally. Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), young children, pregnant women, seniors, people with underlying health conditions, low-income households, and outdoor workers carry the greatest health burdens from air pollution and climate change due to systemic racism and structural inequities. These disparities place an even greater strain on healthcare workers and our healthcare system by creating avoidable costs and waste.³⁶
It is critical that the NC Carbon Plan we ultimately adopt prioritizes both health and equity in our state. Reducing air pollution in the United States alone could prevent an estimated 53,200 premature deaths each year. Meanwhile heatwaves are the deadliest weather-related event we face, increasing both mortality and morbidity. EJ communities are facing a disproportionate energy burden, forcing some households to make the impossible decision between paying their energy bill (i.e. air conditioning) or purchasing other basic necessities such as life-saving medications or food.
And beyond our public health, shifting to renewable energy sources will also yield tremendous economic and societal benefits:
Economic benefits would include saving an average of $608 billion in healthcare spending as well as boosting the creation of millions of green-economy jobs (e.g., solar panel installer, civil and electrical engineers, environmental specialist, green architecture, electric vehicle charging installer, sustainability director, climatologist, project manager, etc.).³⁷
Societal benefits include improved air quality that supports safer outdoor recreation and a more stable climate to reduce incidence of severe weather events such as flooding from hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves that can improve global food security and reduce strain on healthcare workers and our healthcare system.
Equitable public policies that reign in greenhouse gas emissions are the gold standard for creating long-term, sustainable climate solutions. But that does not mean we can’t create systemic actions as individuals or communities. The following are a few actions we can take in our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods to protect our health:
The ongoing Carbon Planning process is an opportunity to protect the health of all North Carolinians. I cannot overstate the influence healthcare professionals can have, adding their trusted voices to support NC’s transition to clean energy.
There are many air quality apps or sites that provide AQ data that can support you in making an informed decision that protects your health. AirNow is just one major example.
While we may be limited in our control of outdoor pollutant exposures, we can mitigate the exposures within our households.
We have all become familiar with mask-wearing as a protective measure during the pandemic—masks such as N95s can filter out particulate pollution.
Transportation, particularly fossil fuel combustion vehicles, are our greatest source of GHG emissions. If possible, consider walking or biking to your next destination—as a bonus, you’ll also reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. You can also explore public transit options where you live.
Having a trusted primary care doctor you see regularly is key to the prevention and management of chronic diseases, including those associated with air pollution and climate change.
Community gardens can inspire collective activities that may support the adaptation of healthy community behaviors (i.e. eating local fruits and vegetables, which reduces emissions from supply chains) and increase sustainability.
Community gardens can inspire collective activities that may support the adaptation of healthy community behaviors (i.e. eating local fruits and vegetables, which reduces emissions from supply chains) and increase sustainability.
A great example of what this may look like is CleanAIRE NC’s collaboration with the Historic West End Green District of Charlotte.
Collaborate with other community agencies that share similar goals calling for the adaptation and implementation of policies that promote environmental public health. There is strength in numbers and organizing!
Your voice matters for the future health of North Carolina! If you are interested in supporting the growth of clean, healthy energy in our state, sign up for our newsletter to learn how you can get involved. Just over the next few weeks, we’ll need people who can attend or speak at the upcoming Carbon Plan public hearings. If you are not comfortable with public speaking, you may also submit written comments. Beyond that, there are always new and exciting opportunities for us to make a difference.
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are among our most trusted voices on the health effects of climate change and air pollution. If you are a healthcare professional (clinical or non-clinical) interested in supporting policies that prioritize health and equity, you can also click here to become a member of the Medical Advocates for Healthy Air (MAHA) network. You’ll receive additional training and resources to help you leverage your trusted voice and sway the public conversation.
