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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Dhananjaya Arekere, PhD, Brian Rivers, PhD, and Lee Green, PhD. Center for the Study of Health Disparities, Texas A&M Univeristy, 4222 TAMU, 112 Harrington Tower, College Station, TX 77845, 979-862-2958, arekere@tamu.edu

Global climate is forecasted to change substantially. Climate changes are not only expected to adversely affect developing countries disproportionately, but also the poor and racial (ethnic) minorities across the world regardless of geopolitical boundaries. Nations are yet to take a comprehensive approach to international agreements, multilateral or bilateral. Some of the reasons for the inertia and disconnect is the uncertainties about climate change, deliberate nature of change, and uncertainty of effects, and perhaps most importantly, the perception of economic losses and immediate realization of benefits. More often than not, economic considerations have come to override human rights concerns of most kinds. The intent of this presentation is to demonstrate the commonality of means and ends between human, environmental and intergenerational rights (equity) concepts to the international politics of climate change. By applying the “rights” framework to climate change policy analysis and discussions, a framework for policy development within and between nations is developed. A method to monetize and convert to present value the benefits that accrue to future generations and minimizing costs to current generations in a human rights setting will also be presented. Additionally, an international climate change policy based in human rights construct will also be presented for the rapidly integrating and interdependent world economy.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to
• Understand the climate change in the human, environmental and intergenerational rights settings
• Gain insights into the link between climate change, human rights, and public health
• Design innovative policies and programs to increase benefits and decrease costs of climate change and public health

Keywords: Human Rights, Climate Change

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation