On August 9, Nelson Institute professor and director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jonathan Patz was featured in the story “Wildfires Degrading Air Quality in Wisconsin are Driven by Climate Change” on Wisconsin Public Radio.
The article explores the recent wildfires and their relation to climate change, as well as how climate change is impacting overall health. Patz, who has served as the lead author for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, shared insight into the health impact of climate change, stating that “these extreme events of drought and heat waves are definitely linked to climate change.”
Patz is also among a group of professionals who are urging the state to shift to a clean energy economy, which research suggests could save the state $21 billion each year in avoided health costs and prevent more than 1,900 deaths.