Climate has a serious impact on the public’s health. Climate change can lead to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, more injuries and deaths due to extreme weather events, wider spread of illnesses carried by insects like ticks and mosquitoes, threats to our food and water supply, significant impacts on mental health and well-being, and more.

Climate Change & Equity

Climate change is a threat to everyone, but some people will feel its impact more than others because of economic, environmental, and social circumstances. In other words, existing inequities are made worse by climate events and shifts. 

Read more about climate change and equity:

• U.S. Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) 
• American Public Health Association: Climate Change, Health and Equity  
• Connecticut Office of Climate and Health  
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Environmental Justice Commitment  
• “Linking Climate and Inequality,” International Monetary Fund  

Extreme Weather

Due to climate change, Connecticut now experiences an increased number of days with extremely high temperatures, storms and hurricanes, and flooding. Each of these weather conditions pose health risks. Visit the links below to see how you can prevent or address climate-related illness and injury.

Read more about extreme weather:

• Norwalk Office of Emergency Management Safety Library
• Hurricanes and Severe Storms
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency Safety Tips  
  • Norwalk Local Safety Tips
• Extreme Heat
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tips to Stay Cool  
  • Norwalk Summer Safety  
• Extreme Cold
  • National Weather Service Safety Tips 
  • Norwalk Emergency Management Extreme Cold
• Drought
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency Safety Tips  
  • Connecticut Statewide Drought Status  

Coastal Resilience

Coastal communities like Norwalk must use strategies to address erosion and flooding and the loss of natural habitat that results from sea-level rise and heavy storms. 

Read more about coastal resilience:

• The CT Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation  
• The Nature Conservancy’s CT Coastal Resilience Project  
• EPA Information on Coastal Resiliency 

Active Transportation and Walkability

A transportation system that includes options such as walking and biking and provides linkages to transit networks (e.g., bus, rail, ferry) can help promote physical activity, improve air quality, improve respiratory and cardiovascular health, and enhance health equity. The Health Department is working with partners throughout the City to promote walking, biking, and a more connected community. 

Read more about active transportation:

• American Public Health Association, Climate Changes Health: Transportation, Communities and Your Health 
• NorWalker Walking Maps and Community Walks  
• Norwalk Department of Transportation, Mobility, and Parking (TMP) 
• Transportation Master Plan 
• Norwalk Bike/Walk Advisory Commission  

For More Information

• Norwalk Tomorrow (information on current planning initiatives and all the ways that you can participate in planning to make Norwalk the best place to live, work, and visit)  
• CT Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)  
• Yale Center on Climate Change and Public Health  
• Norwalk Citywide Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD)