This teleconference will release national survey of public health directors regarding climate change readiness in local communities. Climate change is a concern to most local public health directors but few have resources to tackle the problem, according to a national survey conducted by National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and George Mason University. The survey, included in the report "Are We Ready? Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change," is the first national one of its kind that assesses the perceptions and activities of local public health directors regarding climate change and public health.
Participants in the call will release the study's findings in addition to addressing the concerns raised by local health officials. One hundred and thirty-three local health department directors from across the country answered a series of questions meant to assess their perceptions of climate change and its potential public health effects; their communities' level of preparedness for the health impacts of climate change; their current activities to prevent or mitigate climate change; and their opinions on necessary resources to best address climate change.
WHEN and HOW:
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 10 a.m. Eastern
Call 1-800-935-9319
WHO:
- Dr. John Balbus, Chief Health Scientist and lead author of the report, Environmental Defense Fund
- Ed Maibach, Professor and Director, Center of Excellence in Climate Change Communication Research George Mason University
- A. Dennis McBride, MD, Director of Health, Milford, CT on behalf of NACCHO
- John Mimikakis, Senior Policy Manager, Environmental Defense Fund
CONTACTS:
Jennifer Dickson, Environmental Defense Fund, (202) 572-3401 jdickson@edf.org
Becky Wexler, National Association of County and City Health Officials, (301) 652-1558 BWexler@burnesscommunications.com