Climate change can worsen public health

A recent Harvard study found that climate change can increase cases of malaria, lyme disease, respiratory illness, and kidney stones. Higher average temperatures tend to favor mosquitoes and ticks, which are major vectors for malaria and lyme disease, respectively. Heat also increases the formation of photochemical smog, which can increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Most importantly, here's something that directly affects Hoosiers:

"Climate change is making Indiana warmer, raising the risk of kidney stones because of low urine volume linked to heat exposure, according to a study cited by the Harvard center. By 2050 southern Indiana will fall into the high-risk zone for kidney stones and by 2100, the entire state will."

All industrialized countries, except the U.S., already have plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's time for the U.S., which has the largest per capita emissions in the world, to take action so please write to Senators Bayh and Lugar about the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. For more info about the act, check out the Union of Concerned Scientists' website. They have an excellent summary and some good talking points too.