Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year, according to the Worl… Changes in the greenhouse gas concentrations and other drivers alter the global climate and bring about myriad human health consequences. Among those who say they see local impacts of climate change in their community, 83% of Pacific region and 78% of Mountain region residents say increasing wildfire activity is a major effect. These impacts threaten our health by affecting the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the weather we experience.The severity of these health risks will depend on the ability of public health and safety systems to address or prepare for thes… As areas in the Pacific and Mountain regions have gotten hotter and drier, the length of the fire season and the sizes of fires have grown. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Similarly, those living within 25 miles of a coast are especially likely to cite rising sea levels as a major climate change impact. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to live within 25 miles of a coastline (37% vs. 25%), but in both party coalitions, those who live closer to a coast are more likely to perceive greater impacts from climate change in their local area. Large majorities of Democrats – both near and far from a coast – say climate change is affecting their local community at least some. Effects such as these have led the World Health Organization to declare climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. One of the impacts of a warming climate that will affect our coastal communities is sea level rise. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA They encompass the creation, exacerbation, and complication of conditions involving almost all organ systems of humans and most other biological fauna and flora. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. But Democrats who live within 25 miles of a coastline are more likely than Democrats who live 300 miles or more inland to say climate change is impacting their community a great deal (39% vs. 29%). Note: See full topline results and methodology. Yes, the vast majority of actively publishing climate scientists – 97 percent – agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change. Equal shares (56%) say more frequent wildfires or rising sea levels that erode beaches and shorelines have been major effects locally. Among those living close to a coast who see at least some local effects of climate change, about seven-in-ten (72%) say this, compared with fewer than half of those who live at least 300 miles inland and see at least some effects of climate change locally (45%). (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main In comparison, 46% of those asked in the Midwest and 38% in Mountain states cite this as a major effect. Sea levels are rising and oceans are becoming warmer. About eight-in-ten Democrats (82%, including those who lean to the Democratic Party) say climate change is affecting their local community at least some, while about half as many Republicans say this (38%, including leaners). (The South Atlantic region includes Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia.) Climate change affects human health and wellbeing through more extreme weather events and wildfires, decreased air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects, food, and water. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Among those who see climate change effects locally, majorities of residents in Northeastern (64%), South Atlantic (64%) and Pacific states (62%) – regions with significant lengths of coastline – cite rising sea levels that erode beaches and shorelines as a major local effect. The worst climate change impacts include the melting of the ice mass at the poles, which in turn causes rising sea level, producing flooding and threatening coastal environments through which small island states risk disappearing entirely. And around seven-in-ten of those who see climate effects in their community cite severe weather (70%), harm to animal wildlife and their habitats (69%) or damage to forests and plant life (67%) as major effects. Rising seas could have major economic implications for coastal communities. Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Although majorities of Americans across regions who say they see at least some local impact of climate change cite long periods of hot weather as a major effect, responses vary widely by region when it comes to other kinds of environmental impacts. Americans’ beliefs about the overall effect of climate change on their local community vary by geographic region. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main The information on the health effects of climate change has been excerpted from the Third National Climate Assessment’s Health Chapter external icon. Among Republicans and GOP leaners, 45% of those who live within 25 miles of a coastline say climate change is affecting their local community at least some, compared with 31% of Republicans who live 300 miles or more from a coastline. All sectors of Maine’s economy -- from energy to agriculture, forestry, fishing, and tourism – will feel the effects of climate change, such as warmer temperatures, more rain and overall extreme weather, and rising sea levels. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets … Americans living in close proximity to a coastline are modestly more likely to report climate change is affecting their local community. This difference is especially pronounced among Republicans: Those living near the coast are 13 percentage points less likely than those living further away to favor expanding offshore oil and gas drilling (55% vs. 68%). The minimum distance between each respondent’s ZIP code and the nearest point on the coastline was calculated using the spherical law of cosines approximation. Ozone in the atmosphere warms the climate, while different components of particulate matter (PM) can have either warming or cooling effects on the climate. Here’s the problem. Equal shares (56%) say more frequent wildfires or rising sea levels that erode beaches and shorelines have been major effects locally. This compares with about half or fewer of those living in the Southern (52%), Northeastern (46%) or Midwestern (40%) regions of the United States who say the same. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. And we mean that quite literally. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World. Read more about the ATP’s methodology. Sea levels are ris… Some groups of people will likely face greater challenges than others. A 2019 United Nations report warned that climate change is warming oceans, resulting in more severe flooding and storms. The changing environment is expected to cause more heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents. Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. It also includes the economic and social changes which stem from living in a warmer world. 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