Think Globally, Act Locally: Global Warming and Richmond, CA Michel Sam, MS, MD

Richmond Demographics – Environmental Racism US Census 2000 Richmond, CA LaotianAsianBlackLatinoWhiteTotal Population1,84912,19835,77726,31931,11799,216 % of Richmond Population Median Household income in $39,44456,55835,91841,36250,39044,210 Average Household size Per Capita Income in $8,06220,54317,47312,23926,61219,788 Individuals below poverty level3601,0847,8224,8193,53815,873 % below poverty level

Richmond and the Environment Strong history of environmental activism, esp. re: Chevron Strong history of environmental activism, esp. re: Chevron West County Toxics Coalition – group of local organizations led by Henry Clark West County Toxics Coalition – group of local organizations led by Henry Clark Communities for a Better Environment Communities for a Better Environment Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Laotian Outreach Project Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Laotian Outreach Project

APEN APEN, founded in 1993, its mission is to empower low-income API communities to achieve environmental and social justice. APEN, founded in 1993, its mission is to empower low-income API communities to achieve environmental and social justice. Direct organizing in local communitiesDirect organizing in local communities Network buildingNetwork building Multiracial alliances to affect regional and national changeMultiracial alliances to affect regional and national change

APEN – LOP Branch of APEN specifically created to address the needs of the Laotian community in CC County Branch of APEN specifically created to address the needs of the Laotian community in CC County Membership base of 200 families and 20 leaders Membership base of 200 families and 20 leaders Torm Nompraseurt, Lead Organizer. Featured in “Unnatural Causes” Torm Nompraseurt, Lead Organizer. Featured in “Unnatural Causes”

LOP - Fighting Fire with Fire After the March 1999 chemical explosion at Chevron revealed CC County’s inadequate English Only emergency response system, the LOP got the county to implement a multilingual emergency phone alert system After the March 1999 chemical explosion at Chevron revealed CC County’s inadequate English Only emergency response system, the LOP got the county to implement a multilingual emergency phone alert system

Trying to Stop the New Chevron Incinerator APEN-LOP, Communities for a Better Environment, and the West Toxics Coalition are suing the city of Richmond over the city council’s decision to allow Chevron to proceed without public input or proper environmental review. APEN-LOP, Communities for a Better Environment, and the West Toxics Coalition are suing the city of Richmond over the city council’s decision to allow Chevron to proceed without public input or proper environmental review.

Global Warming and Richmond APEN: How does global warming affect the health of people in Richmond and Contra County? APEN: How does global warming affect the health of people in Richmond and Contra County?

Rising Global Temp

JAMA, Jan 2004

Lyme Disease

Dengue Fever

JAMA, Jan 2004

Thinking Globally WHO estimated mortality attributable to climate change in 2000 (CVD, diarrhea, malaria, flooding, malnutrition). Nature, Nov 2005

Where to go from here? Infections. Malaria, Dengue Fever, Lyme Disease? Not very realistic Infections. Malaria, Dengue Fever, Lyme Disease? Not very realistic Heat Wave Related Events and Preparedness Heat Wave Related Events and Preparedness Related to LOP’s multilingual emergency response systemRelated to LOP’s multilingual emergency response system Allergies – High rates of asthma and SAR in CC County Allergies – High rates of asthma and SAR in CC County

References Knowlton et al. The 2006 California Heat Wave: Impacts on Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits. Environ Health Perspect 117:61–67 (2009). Hess et al. Climate Change, The Importance of Place. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5):468–478. McMichael et al. Climate change and human health: present and future risks. Lancet 2006; 367: 859–69 Campbell-Lendrum et al. Climate change: Quantifying the health impact at national and local levels. WHO Public Health and the Environment, Geneva Ebi et al. Community-Based Adaptation to the Health Impacts of Climate Change. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5) Frumkin et al. Climate Change: The Public Health Response. Am J Public Health. 2008;98:435–445. Patz et al. Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature Vol 438|17 November Haines et al. Health Effects of Climate Change. JAMA, January 7, 2004—Vol 291, No. 1 US Census Bureau