As of May 23, 2011 New York City’s parks and beaches are smoke-free.
Climate Change as a Public Health Issue
Climate change is expected to result in increased temperatures, rising sea levels and more extreme weather conditions in NYC and across the globe. This can threaten critical NYC infrastructure and has serious implications for the physical and mental health of New Yorkers.
The NYC Health Department has received funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) that will identify effective interventions to reduce the anticipated adverse health impacts associated with a changing climate.
Working closely with NYC Health Department and the Mayor's office of Long-Term Planning, CCAP will focus on health impact assessments related to an increased frequency of weather-related conditions such as extreme heat events, power outages and coastal storms. The program will also guide prevention strategies by integrating emerging information, strengthening existing programs and enhancing multi-agency coordination and stakeholder relationships. Armed with these resources, NYC will once again be on the cutting edge in developing new knowledge and adaptive strategies for climate-sensitive public health issues.
The project's major milestone will be a "Public Health Action Plan for Climate Change," which will ensure the integration of public health considerations into the Citywide Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The plan will identify and recommend best-practice climate change adaptations. Successful implementation of the plan requires reaching vulnerable, often isolated, populations. CCAP will form partnerships across a diverse group of stakeholders including health care providers, community- and faith-based organizations, and local, state and federal agencies to disseminate information to NYC vulnerable communities and integrate CCAP findings into existing plans.