Dear AJPM Reader,
 
The years since the arrival of the 21st century have been marked by the clearest signs yet of human-driven global climate change. According to NASA, the average surface temperature of our planet has risen 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18°C), with most of this increase occurring in the past 40 years. Similarly, weather-related disasters have increased five-fold in the last 50 years, per a World Meteorological Association report.

The founding of AJPM 37 years ago was roughly coincident with the initial appearance of many of the early signs climate change and the recognition of its potential threat to people and the environment. In fact, climate change and preventive medicine intersect in a variety of ways, from contributing to risk factors for cardiovascular disease to threatening physical activity behaviors to exacerbating health inequities, in addition to the acute suffering produced by increases in weather-related disasters.

This month, we are featuring our Environmental Health & Climate Change article collection. We also wish to invite more research on the intersection of climate change and preventive medicine for submission to AJPM given its adverse and rapidly growing impact on human health and wellbeing.

Please consider submitting to AJPM on this important topic. We otherwise hope you find our February 2022 articles to be timely, topical, and informative.

Yours in prevention and health,