Climate change is pushing health care systems to the limit

BY DR. PAUL CHARLTON, NATHANIEL MATTHEWS-TRIGG AND SHELLEY MANN-LEV NM HEALT H PRO FESSION ALS FOR CLI MATE ACTION

Back-to-back days of debilitating heat. We all feel it. Even worse, this current record-breaking stretch of dangerous heat is just another sign that our way of life, and the health of all New Mexicans, is under threat. Extreme heat contributes to numerous life-threatening health problems, including heatstroke, dehydration, increased risk of heart attacks, respiratory difficulties, and more.

In New Mexico, between 2009 and 2020, heat-related emergency department visits doubled and heat hospitalizations quadrupled. Our elders and children are suffering disproportionately. Pregnant women exposed to extreme heat are more likely to have stillbirths or preterm births. Young children and senior citizens are at increased risk of deadly heat stroke as they are less able to physically cope with high temperatures.

Year-after-year record-breaking high temperatures, historic wildfires, and worsening drought are increasing concern among health professionals. No longer is climate change a distant threat. It is pushing our already fragile health care and social support systems to their limit, as we witness an alarming rise in climate-related illnesses and injuries, mental health stress, and loss of livelihoods. We, the doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, social workers, public health professionals, and others on the frontlines of this growing crisis witness firsthand the devastating health effects on our communities. This is a reality that is neither sustainable, nor acceptable.

We recognize climate change is a broad and complex issue, yet its impact on our community’s health is tangible, immediate, and preventable. We must act now. New Mexico’s future — our collective future — depends on our ability to reduce our emissions and adapt to this new climate reality.

This is why a growing group of health professionals formed the New Mexico Health Professionals for Climate Action (NMHPCA), to mobilize New Mexico health professionals in advocating for healthy and equitable climate solutions.

We call upon our peers in the medical, public health, social work, and other health communities to join us in advocating for a New Mexico that supports those most vulnerable to climate change, provides communities with the infrastructure they need to stay safe, and invests in our health systems so they are prepared for a hotter future.

Our communities need your expertise, the strength of your influence, and the depth of your commitment to improving the health of all New Mexicans. In the face of a changing climate, silence is a luxury we cannot afford, and inaction a choice too costly to make. The time to act is now. The heat is on.