Summary

Over the course of this century, Northampton will experience significant climate changes, including more days of extreme heat; increased precipitation, severe weather events, power outages, and flooding; and shorter winters with milder temperatures and longer summers. These changes are already underway in Northampton and across Massachusetts.

Climate change will lead to health and societal impacts. Based on the best available research, we expect the following:

• More hospitalizations and emergency visits due to heat stress, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.
• Higher incidence of seasonal allergies, Lyme disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and West Nile Virus.
• A small increased risk of waterborne illness and displacement due to flooding.
• Greater stress and anxiety from extreme weather events that disrupt power, sanitation, and health care services, and damage homes.
• Changes in utility costs, with lower heating costs but higher cooling costs over time.

In some ways, Northampton residents are healthier than the average Massachusetts resident—for example, there are fewer heart attacks, less cardiovascular disease, and lower obesity rates. In other ways, Northampton faces challenges, including higher rates of childhood asthma and elderly suicide. As the city plans for climate adaptation, it is essential to consider populations that are more vulnerable to health and social risks: those with lower incomes, the elderly, children, people who are linguistically isolated, people of color, those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and those with mental health or substance use disorders. Their needs and voices must be prioritized in adaptation planning.

Fortunately, Northampton is already engaged in strategies to reduce some of these climate-related health impacts. A range of short- and long-term strategies at the city, regional, and state levels can help minimize health risks as the climate continues to change. Many of these strategies offer “co-benefits”—actions that not only reduce climate impacts but also improve health. For example, land use planning that encourages walking and biking reduces emissions and promotes physical activity. Northampton is already implementing this approach.

Recommendations

Public health actions, especially around emergency preparedness and disease prevention, can proactively protect residents from climate impacts. Early action will yield the greatest health benefits, as our ability to adapt will diminish over time. This report recommends the following public health strategies:

• Reduce vulnerabilities by focusing on prevention, healthy built environments, closing gaps in health care access, and expanding emergency room capacity.
• Educate and engage Northampton residents, organizations, and businesses about climate-related health risks and actions they can take.
• Strengthen public health preparedness through evacuation planning, public drills, improved utility response to outages, and enhanced disease surveillance.
• Collaborate across sectors and levels of government to identify and prioritize strategies with public health co-benefits.
• Conduct research to inform health promotion and protection, such as estimating the proportion of childhood asthma linked to climate change.
• Implement policies and systems changes that integrate climate, health, and equity considerations at all levels.
• Build capacity within public health, health care, and infrastructure systems to prepare for and respond to climate events and maintain continuity of care.

By working together, planning thoughtfully, and taking action, Northampton can reduce health risks from climate change and lead by example. Few local health departments nationwide have taken action on climate change impacts, yet these global changes will play out locally. The City of Northampton, through the Office of Planning and Sustainability and the Department of Health, can continue to lead the way.