Date of Completion

2019

Document Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Environmental Science

Thesis Type

Honors College, College of Arts and Science Honors

First Advisor

Rory Waterman

Second Advisor

Christine Vatovec

Third Advisor

Rachelle Gould

Keywords

Climate change, health, health impacts

Abstract

Climate change impacts human health in a variety of ways, which differ depending on geographical location. These impacts include worsening heat events, worsening air quality, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, among other things. I completed an assessment to look at the many possible ways in which climate change could impact the health of the residents of Alexandria, Virginia, and then focused on heat and air quality impacts as areas of top concern. I identified vulnerable populations for each impact, and researched young athletes and heat illness in particular. After looking broadly into the individual health impacts, I reviewed existing policy regarding climate change and health at the local and state level with a focus on school sports cancellation policy. I also reviewed the resources and policies available in major U.S. cities and states for comparison. After reviewing the policy and information available in Alexandria and other localities, I made recommendations to by implemented in the short-term and long-term for mitigation of these health impacts.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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