Upcoming report examines public health impacts of climate change

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As Indiana’s weather gets warmer and wetter over the next century, Hoosiers will face an increased risk of mosquitoes carrying such “tropical” diseases as malaria and Zika while decreased air quality could trigger more respiratory ailments and a longer allergy season, according to the latest report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA).

The report, examining the health impacts of climate change, will be released at a community briefing April 5, 10:30 a.m., in the Faegre Baker Daniels Conference Room at Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, 720 Eskenazi Ave., Indianapolis. The briefing is open to the public and will include a question-and-answer session with the report authors.

“It’s appropriate that we are releasing this report during National Public Health Week,” said Jeff Dukes, director of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center. “In recent decades, changes in Indiana’s climate have affected Hoosiers’ health and well-being. Although some segments of our population face greater threats than others, all Hoosiers will face health risks from these new conditions.”

The Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment, based at Purdue University, has compiled the latest scientific research into a series of easily understandable reports about climate change impacts in nine topic areas: climate, water resources, health, energy, forest and urban ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, tourism and recreation, agriculture and infrastructure. The assessment team consists of more than 100 experts from Purdue and other Indiana institutions.

The first report in the series, Indiana’s Past and Future Climate, was released March 1. It is available on the IN CCIA website at https://ag.purdue.edu/indianaclimate/indiana-climate-report/.

For more information about the IN CCIA, go to http://indianaclimate.org or follow on social media at @PurdueCCRC, #ClimateChange, #INCCIA. 

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-2722; dpack@purdue.edu

Source: Jeff Dukes, 765-494-1446, 765-494-1525; jsdukes@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, dpack@purdue.edu  
Agriculture News Page