Preparing for climate change: a perspective from local public health officers in California.
BACKGROUND
The most recent scientific findings show that even with significant emission reductions, some amount of climate change is likely inevitable. The magnitude of the climate changes will depend on future emissions and climate sensitivity. These changes will have local impacts, and a significant share of coping with these changes will fall on local governmental agencies. Public health is no exception, because local public health agencies are crucial providers of disease prevention, health care, and emergency preparedness services.


METHODS
This article presents the results of a survey of California's local pubic health officers conducted between August and October 2007. The survey gauged health officers' concerns about the public health impacts of climate change, programs in place that could help to mitigate these health effects, and information and resource needs for better coping with a changing climate.


RESULTS
The results of this survey show that most public health officers feel that climate change poses a serious threat to public health but that they do not feel well equipped in terms of either resources or information to cope with that threat. Nonetheless, public health agencies currently implement a number of programs that will help these agencies handle some of the challenges posed by a changing climate.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the results suggest that local public health agencies in California are likely in a better position than they perceive to address the threats associated with climate change but that there is a larger role for them to play in climate policy.
Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, California 94111, USA. bedsworth@ppic.org
Louise
L
Bedsworth
D002140:California; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D003625:Data Collection; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D010819:Physician's Role; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management