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Lecornu: Climate change effects health

Abstract: Southard is absolutely right. The impacts of climate change are completely devastating. In addition to the extreme weather that climate change exacerbates, like flooding, droughts and powerful hurricanes, it also causes damage to our health. Higher temperatures and poorer air quality can lead to increased asthma attacks, other lung problems and cause heatstrokes. Furthermore, hot weather is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and increases the rate at which viruses replicate, leading to an increase in vector borne diseases like West Nile and Zika. A Harvard study found that the Clean Power Plan would result in 38 billion dollars worth of net benefits, so why are we waiting on this? Only through cleaning up our power plants, cars and trucks can we tackle climate change and avert the worst impacts of climate change.

Resource URL: http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/letters/lecornu-climate-change-effects-health/article_b6672835-24e7-5609-bf2c-b13c13a437dd.html