SUMMARY
As the U.N. climate conference nears its end, there's concern over whether countries can or will meet prior pledges to hold down global temperatures. If temperatures continue to climb, the impact on health could be profound and some doctors say their profession is not prepared. William Brangham reports in collaboration with the Global Health Reporting Center with support from the Pulitzer Center.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS
- What conference is mentioned at the beginning of this story?
- How many people die of heat related illness in South Asia every year?
- Who is Dr. Satchit Balsari, and where is he based?
- Why are some doctors saying physicians aren't prepared for health impacts of climate change?
- How did Dr. Balsari's team study the impacts of increased heat on health?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What changes do you think doctors and medical staff in the U.S. should be thinking of to prepare for the health effects of climate change?
Media literacy: What information do you think is lacking from this story that would better help explain the connection between climate change and human health?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
FOR MORE
What students can do: Discuss — with increasing warm summers, the effects of climate change on human health can be especially dangerous in cities, which trap heat. Check out this lesson that challenges students to come up with ways to reduce the impact of heat in urban environments.
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