Urgent Action Needed on Climate Change in Connecticut

In an urgent call to action, Melissa McCann, a medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, warns that Connecticut faces severe climate and health repercussions if no efforts are made to cap greenhouse gas emissions. By mid-century (2040-2069), the state could see rising temperatures, increased extreme heat days, and a spike in heat-related illnesses, particularly affecting outdoor workers, the homeless, and the elderly. This will strain healthcare systems and exacerbate conditions for asthma and infectious diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease due to longer seasons for ticks and mosquitoes.
Year-round temperature increases will also disrupt seasonal transitions, while extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, will become more frequent, particularly along the Connecticut River and coastal areas. This can lead to injuries, deaths, infrastructure damage, and mental health issues from displacement and overcrowding.
McCann stresses that merely adapting to these changes is not sufficient. Immediate and strong measures to mitigate climate change must be implemented by Connecticut policymakers, including Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Martin Looney, and Speaker Matt Ritter, during the upcoming special session. The article emphasizes that climate change is a universal issue requiring collective action to secure a healthy future for coming generations.