What's the Issue?

Climate change poses a significant threat to public health, as it can lead to various diseases and negatively impact human well-being. It can result in higher temperatures, worsened air quality, increased wildfires, prolonged droughts, severe flooding, and the spread of vector-borne diseases. Additionally, climate change can worsen respiratory and heart conditions and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Climate change – defined by NASA as a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates – is a defining crisis of our time. Climate change is not only impacting our environment, but can also pose risks to our health.

Click on the image below to learn about the connection between climate change and public health.
Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health Graph

Source: This image was adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and J. Patz.

To learn more about why climate change is a public health issue, watch the video below from the American Public Health Association.

Why This Work Matters

Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.

The effects of climate change are happening now. In addition to slowing the progress of climate change, adaptation to our changed living environments will be crucial.

While everyone will be affected, some groups will experience a greater impact. Front line individuals, children, and older adults — face higher risks from climate change. These communities have fewer resources and less ability to adapt to and recover from the negative health effects of climate change. Climate change is just one of many public health crises that are faced by frontline communities.

For more information, please visit Environmental Justice.

Climate Change - Health Risk

Source: This image was developed by the World Health Organization.

While the health impacts of climate change are significant, the cost of inaction is also steep. For example, with regard to extreme heat, the California Department of Insurance released a report titled “Impacts of extreme heat to California’s people, infrastructure, and economy” in 2024, which noted the most significant cost of these events results from premature deaths, ranging from social welfare costs of $77 million to $2.2 billion per extreme heat event. The report also found that Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic mortality rates were higher in all extreme heat events studied, compared to Asian and White Non-Hispanic populations.

Our Work in Action

Our Office focuses on preventing health impacts from climate change threats, promoting adaptation to climate change impacts, and building community resilience through policy interventions, education and communications, and community partnerships. We work with other County offices to develop new policies and collaborate on critical programs.

Key projects and activities include:

Heat-Related Illness and Mortality Dashboard

Extreme Heat Toolkit for School Campuses

Establishing a Safe Maximum Indoor Temperature for Rental Housing Units in LA County

Heat-Related Illness Data Brief

Stay Healthy in the Heat

LARC-HEAT Evaluation Report

Climate Change and Health Equity in Los Angeles County

Strategies for Action
For a comprehensive list of all projects, programs, and activities, please visit the Project Activities.

What Community Can Do

  • Report an Environmental Health Hazard – Learn how to report issues affecting your community by visiting the How and Why to Report Problems page or viewing the Reporting Environmental Problems FAQ in both English and Spanish for Unincorporated County and Incorporated Cities.
  • Make Your Voice Heard – Policies and programs benefit from community participation. Share your input and learn how to get involved on our Policy page.
  • Access Data Resources – Explore environmental justice and climate health data on our Data Resources Page .
  • Stay Informed – Participate in community meetings, workshops, and events hosted by local organizations. Community-based organizations provide opportunities for residents to connect with their neighbors and the surrounding communities.