Climate Change and Human Health Impacts in the United States: An Update on the Results of the U.S. National Assessment

Ebi, Kristie L.; Mills, David M.; Smith, Joel B.; Grambsch, Anne

A note on definitions used: "climate" is the average state of the atmosphere and the underlying land or water in a particular region over a particular time scale. "Climate variability" is the variation around the mean climate and includes seasonal variations and irregular events such as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation. "Climate change" operates over decades or longer and occurs as a result of both internal variability within the climate systems and external factors (both natural and anthropogenic). "Adaptation" encompasses the strategies, policies, and measures undertaken now and in the future to reduce potential adverse health effects. "Adaptive capacity" refers to the general ability of institutions, systems, and individuals to adjust to potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, and to cope with the consequences. The primary goal of building adaptive capacity is to reduce future vulnerability to climate variability and change.