UW's Patz On Climate Change and Health

Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) A UW researcher says climate change is already impacting peoples’ health.

Professor Jonathan Patz attended the recently concluded UN Climate Change Summit in Dubai, where nations agreed to reduce global emissions. “We are not just doing this to stabilize climate for the planet’s sake but it's for our own health’s sake.”

Reducing emissions means moving away from fossil fuels. “Here in Wisconsin even though this is a global problem, we feel the impact locally, and we'll see the benefits locally as we get to a low carbon economy.”

Patz said climate change is already impacting peoples’ health here in Wisconsin. “Climate change, it affects our health. It affects it now through heatwave floods, droughts.”

Patz continued, “There's no sacrifice to depart from fossil fuels. We are not waiting for a miracle. Renewables are the cheapest way to generate electricity now, so there's no financial reason to remain on fossil fuels.”

Patz says improved air quality could mean 2,000 fewer deaths annually in Wisconsin.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.