Climate and Health
The weather in New York City can sometimes be extreme, with events such as heat waves, blizzards and hurricanes. With climate change, these extreme events are occurring more frequently and becoming more dangerous — increasing the risk of illness, injury or death.
These hazards include:
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 the city that have been historically deprived of public resources are at greater risk from the health and economic threats from our climate. In NYC, these are often low-income communities of color.
You can find out how climate risks and health impacts differ among NYC neighborhoods in the Climate and Health Reports on the NYC Health Department's Environment and Health Data Portal.
Scientific Articles
The articles listed below examine climate and health in New York City. They were co-written by Health Department staff. Most of them were published in peer-reviewed journals to help scientists, policy makers and other professionals better understand our climate and its risks.
Publications
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
- New York City Panel on Climate Change 2015 Report — Chapter 5: Public Health Impacts and Resiliency (2015)
Coastal Storms
- Health effects of coastal storms and flooding in urban areas: a review and vulnerability assessment (2013)
Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat
- 2021 New York City Heat-Related Mortality Report
- 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)
- Epi Data Brief: Heat-related deaths in New York City, 2013 (2014, PDF)
- Heat illness and deaths — New York City, 2000–2011 (2013)
- Extreme heat awareness and protective behaviors in New York City (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
Additional Resources
- NYC Department of Health Climate and Health Profile Report (PDF)
- Cool Neighborhoods NYC — Keeping Communities Safe in Extreme Heat (PDF)
- NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan
- New York City Panel on Climate Change
- CDC: Climate and Health Program
- White House Report on the Health Impacts of Climate Change on Americans (PDF)