Climate Change and Health

According to the New York State (NYS) Climate Impacts Assessment, the state is getting warmer and wetter.  In fact, NYS experienced consistent warming over the last century at rates of about 0.25°F per decade between 1902 and 2022, and temperatures are projected to increase by 5-10°F by the 2080s.  Consequently, the number of extreme heat days residents of NYS are exposed to will also increase.  Annual precipitation increased at a rate of about 0.47 inches per decade between 1902 and 2022, and its projected to increase an 11% to 31% by the 2080s.  These impacts are likely to vary seasonally and geographically across the state.  Extreme cold events are projected to decrease in NYS, but much of projected increase in precipitation is expected to occur in winter months.

State Health Department staff have been working to identify, implement, and evaluate adaptations to reduce the public health risks of climate change and extreme weather.  Building resilience for the impacts of climate change and extreme weather is important because of NYS’s large population and broad mixture of rural, suburban, and urban areas, as well as extensive coastlines vulnerable to flooding and extreme weather events.  Vulnerable populations have been a key focus of efforts to reduce the public health impacts of climate change and extreme weather.  Some of the groups generally considered to be more vulnerable to these impacts make up a substantial proportion of the NYS population.  The US Census Bureau estimates that 13% of the statewide population lives in poverty, 17% of the population is age 65 or older, 6% of the population is under 5 years of age, and approximately 45% of the population is a race/ethnicity other than white, non-Hispanic.  Other groups that may be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather include certain occupational groups, people with preexisting or chronic medical conditions, and people with disabilities.

Climate change is an important priority for NYS.  In January 2020, the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Law) (https://climate.ny.gov/) went into effect.  The Climate Law’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) targets are among the most rigorous of any major economy in the world.  In December 2022, the NYS Climate Action Council approved a Scoping Plan that provides a roadmap to achieve the Climate Law’s GHG mitigation targets.  In April 2023, the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) approved criteria for defining and identifying Disadvantaged Communities across NYS, to ensure that frontline and otherwise underserved communities benefit from the state’s historic transition to cleaner, greener sources of energy, reduced pollution and cleaner air, and economic opportunities.  In addition, recent NYS State-of-the-State addresses have committed state agencies to develop adaptation plans to better prepare NYS resident for the unavoidable impacts of climate change and extreme weather.  Because climate and health adaptation actions at the local level are critical, this incentive initiative seeks to build capacity and awareness in LHDs and their jurisdiction with the goal of reducing public health risks associated with climate change.

What You Need to Know

• Climate change is happening and expected to continue.
• A changing climate affects health and increases risks for illness, injury, and death.
• Certain people and places are at greater risk of climate-related health impacts.
• Responding to climate change protects human health.

Climate change is happening when there are significant changes in weather patterns— such as temperature, precipitation and wind patterns — that occur over years, decades, and centuries.  While climate change is a global problem it can affect people and places differently.

Not all New York State communities experience climate change in the same way.  In some areas, temperatures may increase while they decrease in others.  Increases in temperatures also affect air pollution levels in New York State communities.  Extreme weather, such as heat waves, droughts, torrential rain, and hurricanes, also may happen more frequently in some communities than others. Learn more about climate change in New York State.

What is Causing Climate Changes?

Human activities, such as burning coal, oil, or gas for energy, clearing forests, and farming practices increase levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.  Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and cause rising temperatures, warming oceans, and rising sea levels. Learn more about what causes climate change.

How Climate Affects Health

The scientific understanding of climate change is evolving. We know that changes in climate affect health in many ways.  For example, droughts and severe floods can affect drinking water quality, food safety, and air quality which can increase risks of illness and injury.  Extreme heat and extreme cold increase the risk of serious health problems, including heat stroke or hypothermia, and can worsen chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.

Climate change also increases the risk of infectious diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitos, such as Lyme disease or West Nile Virus.  These diseases can spread like wildfire where changes in temperature and rainfall provide new breeding conditions for vectors.

Responding to Climate Change

New York State works to address climate change and protect New Yorkers:

• The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), which was passed in July of 2019, is among the most ambitious climate laws in the nation.  The Climate Act aims to reduce greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 40% by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050 by increasing renewable energy use and ensuring all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.
• New York State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan identifies and supports initiatives to keep residents safe and prepare communities for rising temperatures.
• New York State's emergency preparedness programs protect New Yorkers, their property, and our economic well-being from emergencies and disasters.

What You Can Do

Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your family:

• Be informed and prepared: Learn more about emergency preparedness, extreme storms and flooding, outdoor air quality, harmful blue-green algae blooms, extreme heat and extreme cold weather, and tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases.
• Find out about how climate change affects your community: Use our Air Quality Index, Heat Vulnerability Index Maps, and Environmental Public Health Tracker.
• Use tools and resources that can help you cope with changes in temperature such as the NYS Cooling Center Finder and Cooling Assistance Benefit Program.