Public health responses to the risks of climate variability and change in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Discuss issues related to the capacity of the United States to effectively adapt to current and future climate change.
METHODS: Review literature on public health adaptation measures to reduce the burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes.
RESULTS: Most health risks of concern with climate change already exist in the United States. Current interventions may need to be augmented or deployed in new regions to prevent additional climate change-related morbidity and mortality. Monitoring and surveillance systems will need to be modified to ensure programs remain effective under a changing climate.
CONCLUSIONS: Explicit consideration of climate change is needed in the many programs and research activities within federal, state, and local agencies that are relevant to adaptation to ensure that they have maximum effectiveness in reducing future vulnerability to the projected health impacts of climate change.