Climate and Health
As a result of climate change, extreme weather events such as heat waves, heavy rainfall and storms are occurring more frequently and becoming more dangerous — increasing the risk of illness, injury or death. Changes in average temperature and rainfall also affect ecological systems and impact human health, such as increasing the spread of mosquitoes and the risk of food- and water-borne illness.
Climate change impacts health in NYC particularly through:
- Extreme heat
- Extreme cold
- Coastal storms, heavy rainfall and flooding
- Power outages and energy insecurity
- Polluted air
- Air quality: fire and smoke
- Mosquitoes and ticks
Climate change and extreme weather can pose the greatest risks to older adults, young children and people with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities. Communities in our city that have been historically deprived of public resources are also at greater risk from the health and economic threats from climate change. In NYC, these are often low-income communities of color.
You can find out how climate risks and health impacts differ among NYC neighborhoods on the NYC Health Department's Environment and Health Data Portal.
Addressing the health impacts of climate change is one of the NYC Health Department's strategic priorities (PDF).
What You Can Do
Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your family:
- Be informed and prepared: Learn more about emergency preparedness, coastal storms and flooding, outdoor air quality and extreme heat.
- Find out how climate change affects your community: Use our Environment and Health Data Portal, Heat Vulnerability Index Maps and Neighborhood Air Quality reports.
- Use tools and resources to be ready and prepared: Sign up for emergency alerts through NotifyNYC and apply for a free air conditioner through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) if you are eligible.
Join fellow New Yorkers in actions to address climate change:
NYC provides services to help residents reduce their climate impacts. By participating in these programs, we have collective impact, and by using these programs we can show their importance.
- Composting: GrowNYC offers a food scrap drop-off program: GrowNYC: Compost
- Community gardening: Help your community garden plant more native plants. For a list of registered gardens, see NYC Parks: GreenThumb
- Tree planting: Request a tree to be planted through NYC Parks
- Energy saving: Save energy by looking for ENERGY STAR products and learn how to save energy at home. See New York ENERGY STAR Partners Resources by Audience (PDF)
- Farmers’ markets: Individuals can use $10 of SNAP benefits to get $20 of Health Bucks to pay towards purchasing fruits and vegetables at NYC farmers’ markets
- Appliance recycling: CFCs are a powerful greenhouse gas in appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners. NYC Sanitation provides free curbside removal of appliances with CFCs by appointment
- Cloth recycling: Recycle your old clothing and fabric: GrowNYC: Clothing Collections
- Have your work or other organization your involved in participate in the Plant Powered Carbon Challenge.
Scientific Articles
The articles listed below examine climate and health in New York City. They were co-written by Health Department staff. Most were published in peer-reviewed journals to help scientists, policy makers and other professionals better understand our climate, weather and health risks.
Articles by Topic
Allergy and Asthma
- The associations between daily spring pollen counts, over-the-counter allergy medication sales, and asthma syndrome emergency department visits in New York City, 2002-2012 (2015)
- The association of tree pollen concentration peaks and allergy medication sales in New York City: 2003-2008 (2011)
Climate Change
- Climate change and New York City's health risk (2024)
- New York City climate risk information 2022—observations and projections (2024)
- New York City Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment (NPCC4): Climate Change and New York City's Health Risk (2024)
Coastal Storms
- Immediate Injury Deaths related to the Remnants from Hurricane Ida in New York City, September 1-2, 2021. (2024)
- Health effects of coastal storms and flooding in urban areas: a review and vulnerability assessment (2013)
Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat
- 2023 New York City Heat-Related Mortality Report
- Extreme Heat and COVID-19 in New York City: An Evaluation of a Large Air Conditioner Distribution Program to Address Compounded Public Health Risks in Summer 2020 (2023)
- Awareness, risk perception, and protective behaviors for extreme heat and climate change in New York City (2018)
- Hot weather impacts on New York City restaurant food safety violations and operations (2018)
- Excess Mortality Attributable to Extreme Heat in New York City, 1997-2013
- A case-only study of vulnerability to heat wave-related mortality in New York City (2015)
- Heat illness and deaths — New York City, 2000–2011 (2013)
- Summer heat and mortality in New York City: how hot is too hot? (2010)
- Vital Signs: 2006 Heat Wave Investigation Report (2006) (PDF)
Power Outages and Energy Insecurity
- Climate change, energy, and energy insecurity in New York City (2024)
- Energy Insecurity Indicators Associated With Increased Odds Of Respiratory, Mental Health, And Cardiovascular Conditions (2024)
- Local power outages, heat, and community characteristics in New York City (2023)
- Power Outage Preparedness and Concern among Vulnerable New York City Residents (2018)
- Health Impacts of Citywide and Localized Power Outages in New York City (New publications) (2018)