Hello, beautiful faces and people!
First off, happy Earth Day! I am Nicholas J. Mertens, an undergraduate student in environmental studies and political science from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I also go by “Nick” or “Ringo” if you ever meet me in person! Nevertheless, I am currently visiting “the land down under”, writing from my fifth country this year, in Australia! I have also conducted qualitative research in Dubai, UAE; Istanbul, Turkey; Nassau, The Bahamas; and soon Baku, Azerbaijan; and next summer, I will be working in Washington D.C.! I have traveled worldwide for the last two years, studying climate change, private investment, and its intersectional relation with many industries — like healthcare. While lesser known, healthcare and climate change have become so inextricably linked with equitable healthcare. Many communities in the U.S. and worldwide are at greater risk from changing climate: whether it’s increased respiratory diseases from construction, increased exposure to toxic chemicals from overconsumption, or increased risks of heat-related diseases for people who are immunocompromised. Further, as a person with Crohn’s Disease, I take it as my duty to shine light on intersectional environmental and healthcare policy.
A selfie of Nick in front of a waterfall Mount Field National Park and UNSECO World Heritage site in Tasmania, Australia.
Before delving into healthcare and environmental jargon, understanding the beginnings of Earth Day is essential. The motivation to start Earth Day was derived from several environmental developments during the 1960s: Rachel Carson’s environmentalist book Silent Spring, The Ohio Cuyahoga River Fire in 1969, and a disastrous 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. In each example, people’s health were consistently jeopardized, and further exacerbated if they were suffering from an autoimmune condition. Silent Spring was first denied by big companies, and highlighted the constant use of pesticides that killed numerous animals and gave fatal health conditions to humans — including liver disease and seizures. Further, The Cuyahoga River Fire and Santa Barbara oil spill caused petroleum and other industrious chemicals to runoff into aquifers, impacting lower-income areas prone to health impacts from worse water treatment. While the “Big 3” events emphasized a need for change, numerous smaller environmental disasters inspired activists to advocate for a designated holiday. Action was finally reached when Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI) saw the Santa Barbara oil spill, stretching over 500 miles along the California coast. Teaming up with activists and educators, Senator Nelson authored the bill to start Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
Following its inception, Earth Day has ballooned into a worldwide phenomenon. When it was first celebrated in 1970, over twenty million people, from university students to senior citizens, organized events, rallies, and lectures to spread sustainability awareness. Further, several Canadian and American community leaders championed the day for local awareness and impact. Today, April 22, is recognized as Earth Day by every country in the United Nations. Further, over 4 billion people annually participate in earth-related events of some nature. Earth Day is no longer “just about pollution”, but encompasses all parts of intersectionality: the physical environment, climate change, our own identities, and potential barriers to equitable success. Earth Day has permeated borders and become a rallying cry for intersectional, equitable change in the ongoing climate crisis.
A photo that Nick took of an ocean, mountain, and clouds in Pirates Bay, Tasmania.
In my own experiences, the relationship between healthcare and climate is not discussed enough. In the U.S., we have already seen climate change impact health nationwide. For the last five summers, our forest fire season has been prolonged and exacerbated by ongoing drought, heightened temperatures, and shifting wind patterns. Many states have experienced at least two weeks of Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 150 — a value that designates unhealthful conditions for the general population. Some areas, most famously Buffalo, New York, and my home of Minneapolis, Minnesota, faced smoke so severe some days that sunlight couldn’t reach the ground. Because of these conditions, people with respiratory conditions, like asthma, are encouraged to wear an N-95 mask to dilute particulate matter. The smoke matter is dangerous, as it can cause scarring in lung tissue or diffuse into the bloodstream. While some people can travel to areas less affected by fire smoke, most are forced to remain in their housing or continue work outside.
In addition to respiratory conditions, more significant temperature fluctuations can place greater stressors on local healthcare systems — especially hotter temperatures. Last summer, many areas in the Southern U.S. experienced record-breaking temperatures. In Phoenix, Arizona, the city experienced a running streak of over 20 days with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, several communities in New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas faced scorching heat without access to air conditioning or cool liquids. The consecutive heat-waves contributed to a significant rise in hospitalizations. In addition, for people who are not used to extended periods of high heat, this can cause stress on immune responses. Conversely, cold snaps (polar vortexes) are less common than they were two decades ago. Still, their extremely low temperatures are colder than similar examples from the 1990’s.
A photo that Nick took of a sunset with clouds from Perth in Western Australia.
Specifically in the northern U.S., inaccessible heating can cause hypothermia and frostbite. Amongst the immunocompromised and elderly, the impacts from cold-related injury are heightened compared to healthy, young individuals.
From my experiences, traveling in the U.S. and abroad, a changing climate has impacted my health. Last summer, I had to work outside during the horrific wildfires in Northern Canada. Somedays, I was stationed outside for ten hours with an AQI above 200 — where the CDC recommends ALL persons wear an N-95 mask. As someone with Crohn’s, I found my mental health to be more demanding that day, along with my gastrointestinal system to operate more dynamically. Further, it wouldn’t be uncommon for me to cough vigorously for hours after my shift — even after wearing an N-95 mask. The extreme heat placed strain on my mental health and work output as well. While reaching 90 degrees in Minnesota is expected, we are now having multiple weeks in July where the temperatures exceed 100 degrees. I’ve experienced these problems even while abroad, specifically in Dubai and Perth, Australia. Each city is situated in an environment that receives little rain with high average temperatures. In Dubai, when I met with country delegations, many people were forced to flee their homes. While reasons spanned from poorer farm yields to rising sea levels, people worldwide felt the impact equally. From the Congo to the Asian Steppe, many people have changed their habits and political policies to accommodate climate change’s health policies. There was even an entire day last year at the United Nations dedicated to negotiating healthcare and climate change treaties! In Australia, communities lack air conditioning comparable to the U.S. Sea rise in coastal cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Tasmania — harms coral reefs, real estate, and access to proper healthcare. Pushing people inwards from the coasts not only disrupts natural ecosystems, but forces many to uproot their communities and present lifestyle. The mental health implications from climate-induced migration are not well understood. My Crohn’s has been kind thus far in my travels, but climate change has made me consider what impacts I might face compared to home.
A photo Nick took of a sunset over Arawak Key in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Earth Day is a holiday ripe for celebration and active education. Formed from environmental disasters of the 1960s, today it is a holiday that transcends borders and language boundaries. It forces people to consider their own impacts on the environment, but also share in the beauty and wonder of our planet. Climate change will impact us all — the least affluent communities will bear the worst of the impact. Further, climate change is here to stay: it will take all of us to address the habits needed to stop its progression. Still, I challenge you to consider something different this Earth Day. While most editorials will explore how you can better protect the world via recycling or less use, I see another opportunity. How does your health and well-being fit into the environment around you? How would your environment be changed, be it by climate change or another factor, influence your health? When considering, explore not only how it would impact you physically, but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. For myself, I see that my Crohn’s makes me more susceptible to temperature and lifestyle changes. Still, by being aware of my limits, I know that I am capable of so much more — like traveling all around the world! The world is going to change and we will make a difference, but how will you take care of yourself during this time? Before taking on the world, you have to be comfortable taking on yourself.
