Climate & Health

Climate change in Vermont is resulting in hotter summers, shorter winters, and more frequent storms. These trends are expected to continue in the future. The devastation from Tropical Storm Irene, the increasing occurrence of Lyme disease, and more frequent cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms are just a few examples of how climate change can impact Vermonters’ health. While everyone’s health is affected by climate change, certain people and places are more vulnerable than others.

Taking action to minimize the impacts of climate change can improve the health of Vermonters today and in the future. The Health Department is applying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework to:

Identify climate-related health risks in Vermont
Estimate the current and future impact of these risks
Identify populations and locations at greatest risk
Implement actions to prevent or minimize these risks

What do I need to know about climate change and health?

Climate change is already happening, and is expected to continue.

Climate change is increasing health risks in Vermont:

Certain people and places are at greater risk for climate-related health impacts.

Responding to climate change can benefit health now and in the future.

AHPA Climatenexus Climate Change Public Health Vermont

Title	Date	Type
Climate Change and Your Health This is a two-page summary of the ways that climate change can affect Vermonters' health.	01/11/2017	PDF
Climate and Health Profile Report This report is an in-depth review of how climate change may affect public health in Vermont. It has a summary of climate change in Vermont including projected changes in the future, an overview of climate-related health concerns—heat-related illness, mosquito and tick-borne diseases, health effects from extreme weather events, food and waterborne illness, pollen and air quality issues, and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).	09/07/2016	PDF
Heat Impacts on Health in Vermont This document details the association of summer temperatures with heat-related illness and mortality in Vermont.	03/01/2016	PDF
Vermont Heat Vulnerability Index This is a two-page summary description of the Vermont Heat Vulnerability Index.	05/02/2016	PDF
Climate Change and Health in Vermont White Paper This white paper provides a summary of current and expected impacts of climate change on health in Vermont along with discussion of adaptation and mitigation actions that can be taken to reduce Vermont’s contribution to climate change while improving the health and well-being of Vermonters.	10/31/2017	PDF

human health effects of climate change training

This self-paced course is useful for the public health workforce and a wide range of community and partner organizations. It describes causes and mechanisms of climate change, current and expected human health impacts, and specific populations of concern, with particular emphasis on impacts in Vermont and the northeast. The course culminates with examples of strategies used to reduce climate change impacts on health and to improve health through climate change mitigation actions. Go to the Human Health Effects of Climate Change Training

Contact Information

Climate and Health Program
Phone: 802-863-7220 or
800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
Fax: 802-863-7483

ClimateHealth@vermont.gov

In This Section

Vulnerable Populations

Climate change will affect everyone, but certain people and certain places will be affected more than others.

Take Action!

Responding to climate change will benefit health now.

^ Top of the page