Much of the energy that we use in our homes and cars comes for fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels create air pollution and contribute to global climate change. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, make heart problems worse, and contain cancer-causing chemicals. Global climate change could cause local hazards including increases in heat-related deaths, more severe storms (Winter and Summer) and flooding, and increased spread of infectious diseases like West Nile Virus. More globally, droughts and shifts in food production could make food and water more expensive for Bostonians.
This page has been set up to share the latest information about the public health impacts of climate change and simple ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Please check back frequently as it is in the early stages of updating and information and resources will be added as rapidly as possible.
Human Health Impacts of Climate Change
The Earth’s climate has changed over the past century and will continue to do so. This gradual warming of the global temperature will have far-reaching impacts on things seemingly remote such as arctic ice sheets, polar bears, and tropical rain forests. However, it is already having an impact on the health of people locally that will continue to grow in the future. Some of the immediate impacts on the health and safety of Boston residents are:
- Increased Storms – A warmer globe means more energy in the atmosphere which can lead to more frequent and larger storms. In New England, this means not just large summer thunder storms, but more frequent and intense winter storms too. More storms and stronger storms mean more power outages, more property damage, more lost days from work/school due to snow, and more risks of injury and death during the storms and during clean-up after.
- Increased Sea Levels – As arctic ice melts and water temperatures warm, sea levels will rise. Because Boston is a coastal city, we will feel the impact of this directly in the form of higher high tides, storm surges, and flooding. This will compound the problem of more frequent and larger storms. Water damage and flooding can cause health problems for vulnerable individuals as mold growth can make asthma symptoms worse and flood waters can become contaminated with sewage or chemicals.
- More Heat Waves – Heat waves are generally understood to be three or more days in a row with temperatures over 90 degrees. Under even the most optimistic climate change models, Boston is likely to see more and longer heat waves each year. This can be particularly dangerous to young children and the elderly who are at higher risk from dehydration and heat stroke as well as those without access to air conditioning or who work in already hot jobs. In addition, heat waves bring with them poor air quality which can be a hazard to people with heart conditions or asthma or other respiratory problems.
- Economic Impacts – Global climate change will impact the local economy as well. Some scenarios predict changes to fishing stocks that could hurt regional fishermen, changes in foliage and snowfall patterns that could harm the tourism industry, and impacts on Massachusetts’ small farms. Even people not in any of these industries could be directly affected. As climate change impacts farming around the globe, food and other commodities could become harder to get or more expensive locally, affecting the nutritional health of Bostonians.
Fortunately, there are several things that residents of Boston can do to take action now to help slow climate change and adapt to changes as individuals and as a city.
Become More Informed:
The documents at the bottom of this page and the links to the right are excellent places to start learning about climate change, its impact on health, and what you can do. In particular, make sure you visit Boston's Environmental and Energy Services web site to take Mayor Menino's climate change pledge.
Take Action at Home:
- Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use only 25% of the electricity of regular light bulbs, last ten times longer, and can save you as much as $60 over their lifetimes! Contact NSTAR for info on rebates and a free catalogue of efficient bulbs and fixtures at (800)473-9150.
- When you buy new appliances, make sure to check the Energy Star label and buy the most efficient appliance possible.
- Participate in recycling by purchasing products with post-consumer recycled content and by recycling along with your household trash.
- Get some expert advice by calling toll free (866) 527-7283. Make this your first step to lower energy bills and a more comfortable home. You could qualify for a free home energy assessment, materials, and rebates.
- Boston residents who qualify for fuel assistance could also be eligible for lower utility rates, free repair or replacement of your heating system, a more efficient refrigerator at low or no cost, and up to $4,500 for weatherization improvements. Call ABCD at (617) 357-6012 and ask for their energy efficiency programs.
- Clean and change the filters on your heating and cooling systems regularly. Make an annual appointment to have your system serviced.
- Weatherize your home by sealing drafts around windows and doors with caulking and weather stripping. Set your thermostat no higher than 65-68 degrees to reduce your energy usage and save money.
- Wrap your water heater in an insulation jacket and make sure the temperature is set no higher than 115 degrees. This will reduce your energy usage, save money, and prevent scalding.
- Make sure your home is insulated - especially in the attic. Call Keyspan for rebates on insulation if you have natural gas to heat your house.
Take Action on the Road:
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When you buy a new car (or a new used car) look for the most fuel efficient vehicle you can find that fits your budget and your needs. Fuel efficiency, measured in miles per gallon (mpg) is an important measure of your impact on the environment (and your finances) from driving. In general, smaller cars tend to be more fuel efficient than larger cars and hybrids are more fuel efficient than non-hybrids of the same model. If you are car shopping, make sure to check the US Department of Energy web site and/or Greencar.com to find out more about vehicle fuel efficiency.
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Keep your car in good shape to run most efficiently and get the most miles from a gallon of gas. Simple things you can do to make sure you’re getting the most for your fuel dollar are to keep your tires properly inflated, keep up with regularly scheduled maintenance including regular oil changes with the recommended grade of oil for your car, and making sure that your air filters are checked and replaced regularly. This routine maintenance will pay you back in better gas mileage, longer car life, and reduced impact on the planet.
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Don’t Idle. Idling your car burns gasoline – costing you money and polluting the air without the benefit of actually taking you anywhere. In Massachusetts, it is against the law to idle for more than 5 minutes. However, to help reduce air pollution, we recommend that you turn off your engine if you expect to be stopped for more than a minute in the same place.
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Whenever possible, don’t even take your car at all! The easiest way to save money and reduce pollution is not to drive at all. Walking and biking are great for short to medium trips because they prevent pollution and are good physical activity for staying in shape. For longer trips, Boston has an excellent network of MBTA buses and trains that you can use. In addition, Boston also has a great fleet of hybrid taxi cabs that burn much less gas than ordinary cabs and can get you where you need to go. Just look for the green stripe or ask for a CleanAir Cab.
Shop Wisely:
What you buy and how you shop can impact the environment as well. Buying food and products produced locally supports businesses in the area and reduces your environmental impact because it didn’t have to be shipped in from great distances away. Buying products that are made from post-consumer recycled materials and that can be recycled encourages conservation of resources and reduced environmental impact. Even something as simple as bringing re-usable shopping bags when you go shopping can keep mountains of plastic and paper bags from being produced and dumped into landfills each year.
Get Involved:
Finally, get involved. There are a number of advocacy organizations (both local and national) that are working on a number of climate protection efforts and sharing new ideas with their members. Several of the larger ones are listed in the links on the right.