Croft Daniel P, Lee Alison, Nordgren Tara M, Jackson Chandra L, Bayram Hasan, Balmes John R, Nassikas Nicholas, Ewart Gary, Rice Mary B, Benmarhnia Tarik, Celedón Juan C, Holm Stephanie M, Kerr Gaige H, Anenberg Susan, Méndez-Lázaro Pablo, Ambri Preshona, Goobie Gillian C, Rebuli Meghan E, Wilson Sacoby, Annesi-Maesano Isabella, Balakrishnan Kalpana, Cromar Kevin, Jaspers Ilona, Harkema Jack R, Kapil Vikas, Lai Peggy, Maccarone Jennifer, Noël Alexandra, Paulin Laura M, Pinkerton Kent E, Teherani Arianne, Ahn Eddie, Thurston George, Thakur Neeta
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2025 May;22(5):631-650. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202502-219ST.
Adverse environmental exposures worsened by our changing climate threaten respiratory health and exacerbate existing social inequities that further undermine environmental justice (EJ). EJ is the capacity of all people, regardless of sociodemographic characteristics, to minimize harmful exposures and live a healthy life. EJ is achieved through the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. In 2023, an American Thoracic Society workshop convened a group of 39 clinicians, researchers, community advocates, research program administrators, and health policy experts to characterize the respiratory health threats and EJ concerns arising from climate change. The workshop explored four main climate areas through a socioecological and EJ perspective: ) respiratory health risks, ) respiratory health impacts in low- and middle-income countries, ) climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, and ) priority research infrastructure needs. The workshop committee concluded that climate change can directly and indirectly impair respiratory health and that persistently excluded or marginalized communities (including those in low- and middle-income countries) are disproportionately impacted. These disproportionately impacted communities also lack hazard monitoring and resources to evaluate and advocate for mitigation of adverse environmental exposures. Future respiratory health research must inform mitigation strategies to reduce climate-related emissions from industry to net zero. Researchers, communities, and policymakers require training and support to meaningfully engage with systems-thinking research as well as policy solutions focused on mitigating and adapting to climate change. Finally, the workshop committee recommends a rapid transition away from fossil fuel dependence to a world that provides an equitable allocation of clean transportation options and renewable sources of energy production.
气候变化导致的不良环境暴露加剧，威胁着呼吸健康，并加剧了现有的社会不平等，进一步损害了环境正义（EJ）。环境正义是指所有人，无论其社会人口特征如何，都有能力将有害暴露降至最低并过上健康生活。环境正义是通过制定、实施和执行环境法律、法规和政策来实现的。2023年，美国胸科学会举办了一次研讨会，召集了39名临床医生、研究人员、社区倡导者、研究项目管理人员和卫生政策专家，以描述气候变化带来的呼吸健康威胁和环境正义问题。该研讨会从社会生态和环境正义的角度探讨了四个主要气候领域：（1）呼吸健康风险，（2）低收入和中等收入国家的呼吸健康影响，（3）气候缓解和适应策略，以及（4）优先研究基础设施需求。研讨会委员会得出结论，气候变化可直接和间接损害呼吸健康，而长期被排斥或边缘化的社区（包括低收入和中等收入国家的社区）受到的影响尤为严重。这些受影响尤为严重的社区也缺乏危害监测以及评估和倡导减轻不良环境暴露的资源。未来的呼吸健康研究必须为减排策略提供信息，以将工业领域与气候相关的排放降至净零。研究人员、社区和政策制定者需要培训和支持，以便有意义地参与系统思维研究以及侧重于缓解和适应气候变化的政策解决方案。最后，研讨会委员会建议迅速摆脱对化石燃料的依赖，转向一个公平分配清洁交通选择和可再生能源生产的世界。
