Climate Change and Respiratory Health: Opportunities to Contribute to Environmental Justice An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report

Abstract

Adverse environmental exposures worsened by our changing climate threaten respiratory health and exacerbate existing social inequities that further undermine environmental justice (EJ). EJ is the capacity of all people, regardless of sociodemographic characteristics, to minimize harmful exposures and live a healthy life. EJ is achieved through the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. In 2023, an American Thoracic Society workshop convened a group of 39 clinicians, researchers, community advocates, research program administrators, and health policy experts to characterize the respiratory health threats and EJ concerns arising from climate change. The workshop explored four main climate areas through a socioecological and EJ perspective: 1) respiratory health risks, 2) respiratory health impacts in low-and middle-income countries, 3) climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, and 4) priority research infrastructure needs. The workshop committee concluded that climate change can directly and indirectly impair respiratory health and that persistently excluded or marginalized communities (including those in low-and middle-income countries) are disproportionately impacted. These disproportionately impacted communities also lack hazard monitoring and resources to evaluate and advocate for mitigation of adverse environmental exposures. Future respiratory health research must inform mitigation strategies to reduce climate-related emissions from industry to net zero. Researchers, communities, and policymakers require training and support to meaningfully engage with systems-thinking research as well as policy solutions focused on mitigating and adapting to climate change. Finally, the workshop committee recommends a rapid transition away from fossil fuel dependence to a world that provides an equitable allocation of clean transportation options and renewable sources of energy production.