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Lawmakers are currently considering delaying retirement of coal plants and creating new methane gas plants in Georgia. We urgently need to educate about the need for renewable energy to protect children’s health.
What is the ask? Takes about 5-10 minutes of your time. Click on THE BLUE LINK ABOVE. Include your official role (Dr., nurse, etc).
1. My name is , and I live and work in Georgia. ​
2. I see patients with , that is made worse by climate change or air pollution.
3. Tell them that burning of coal, gas/oil and biomass is not safe for human health.
4. The only safe prescription for all Georgians is clean, renewable energy.
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How does the burning of fossil fuels affect health? Few considerations
1. Extreme heat. During extreme heat, more people go to the ER.
2. Nutritional insecurity.
3. Heavy precipitation leads to more mosquito borne illnesses and more diarrheal illness
4. Children near fracking plants have higher rates of leukemia. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP11092
5. Air pollution. The effects are summarized below from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Asthma is a big one.
6. Affects access to critical care. Extreme weather makes it harder to come to medical visits and creates supply chain shortages (e.g, the SALINE shortage we recently experienced with Hurricane Helene).
NEJM video about how climate change and air pollution affects health . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XORFNaNui8.
From the American Academy of Pediatrics: How air pollution affects health.
