Climate change is a medical emergency. Children are at an especially high risk of suffering from heat-related illness, poor air quality, and a rise in infectious diseases, all of which are directly linked to climate change. As pediatricians, we are on the front lines of the climate health emergency and see how climate change is affecting our patients’ health every day. This month, the U.S. announced its formal withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, an international agreement that is intended to increase the global response to climate change. Read our statement below about why AAP California, a coalition of AAP California Chapters 1 (Northern CA), 2 (Greater Los Angeles), 3 (San Diego and Imperial Counties), and 4 (Orange County), opposes this withdrawal and why it is a direct threat to child health in California, the U.S., and the world.
