OHA’s climate report shows ‘signs of hope’ after extreme climate events

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – As climate change is expected to bring more extreme and severe weather events in the coming years, the Oregon Health Authority warns the state must continue to invest in climate resiliency projects, according to a new report.

OHA recently released its Climate and Health in Oregon report for 2023 , focusing on links between heat and wildfire events, as well as heat-related and respiratory illnesses.

The report serves as a “stark reminder” that Oregon should prioritize climate resiliency as extreme climate effects continue, but also offers “signs of hope” for the state to adapt, OHA said.

The findings

According to the report, Oregon communities that were hit hardest by the 2020 wildfires and the 2021 heat dome are still recovering, but local agencies, tribes, and nonprofits have taken lessons from the events and are preparing “for the uncertain future.”

“The Climate and Health in Oregon report reflects the fact that extreme climate effects are our past, present and future, and we need to accept this reality by better understanding these events and helping communities mitigate the health risks associated with them,” said Cara Biddlecom, OHA’s interim Public Health Division director. “We must support an equitable approach to climate resilience, with community expertise as our guide.”

OHA said the report showcases several direct links between extreme heat, and wildfires to heat-related illnesses and respiratory illnesses.

This includes health effects on days when the heat index – which measures how hot it feels when the relative humidity is factored with the actual air temp – is at or above 80 degrees.

In 2023, people sought emergency or urgent care at higher-than-expected levels during high heat index days, according to the report.

Twelve counties exceeded the state average for air quality days at or above moderate Air Quality Index and heat index above 80 degrees. These counties include Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Linn, Marion and Umatilla.

The report also looked at heat-related deaths.

Even though heat-related deaths have recently declined – with 109 deaths in 2021, 22 in 2022, and eight in 2023, those eight deaths were still more than the annual count of heat-related deaths compared to the previous decade, which did not exceed four heat-related deaths per year, OHA said.

The report also detailed warnings about wildfire smoke. According to the report, levels of particulate matter from wildfire smoke are expected to double or triple by the end of the century, with increases in smoke anticipated to cause excess asthma-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations at a rate of 42 excess asthma events per 10,000 population in 2050.

Air-quality-related respiratory illnesses are also double or near double the statewide rate among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander people in Oregon, according to the report.

“Signs of hope”

OHA said the report also shows “signs of hope” as local, Tribal and state government agencies and nonprofits have made recent investments to help Oregonians respond to and recover from future disasters.

OHA highlighted efforts from Gov. Kotek’s budget for health modernization investments and legislative appropriations helping OHA, community-based organizations, and tribes to identify climate hazards and at-risk populations.

This includes providing around $42 million to 194 community organizations, $9.5 million for tribes, $2.8 million in the governor’s budget, and more than $50 million invested during the 2023-2025 biennium helping with climate efforts.

“By building resilience to climate change in Oregon communities, we are making significant strides toward our goal of eliminating health inequities in the state by 2030,” Biddlecom said.

The report comes after climate-related statistics for 2023 related to heat, wildfires, extreme precipitation, and drought, beat several records around the world — including Oregon, which saw record precipitation, OHA said.

The agency warns that threats to Oregonians’ health are likely to grow in the coming years as extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe.

Researchers pointed to some climate predictions, which have already been “overtaken.” This includes the Portland heat dome in 2021, which OHA originally projected would take place in 2050.

OHA furthered that the report is a “stark reminder that as extreme climate effects continue, Oregon must continue to prioritize climate resilience and green infrastructure in communities at greater risk of the health impacts of climate change.”

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