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My name is Bruce Pomer and I represent the Health Officers
Association of California.  These are the physician health officers
in California’s 58 counties and 3 cities with health
jurisdictions. As you know, health and climate change are
intimately linked. The World Health Organization reports that
human-induced changes in the Earth’s climate now lead to at least
5 million cases of illness and more than 150,000 deaths each year. 
Heat-related illness and food or water-borne pathogens are notable
examples of health risks associated with climate change.

The health officers have been engaged in this topic from the
beginning. Today, I am here to emphasize the importance of public
health programs and to request that some of the Air Pollution
Control Fund are made available to local health departments.  As
you know, AB 32 explicitly promoted public health co-benefits of
environmental policies, and directed investment toward
disadvantaged communities. 

The most economically disadvantaged communities are also in many
cases the most adversely affected by environmental and health
impacts.  They face increased air pollution and its associated
chronic diseases; decreased access to safe places for physical
activity; limited access to healthy food; tobacco exposure; and
limited access to affordable housing and transportation.  This
results in decreased life expectancies that can be 10 to 18 years
shorter than those of people who reside in wealthier communities. 

Improving public health with active transportation and other
mitigation measures will help lower health care costs. In
California, it has been estimated that each dollar spent on public
health improvements will save the state $4.80 in five years.

The California Department of Public Health and 61 local health
departments in the state form the backbone of California’s public
health infrastructure. Local health departments work with
nonprofits, community organizations, residents, and other
government entities to protect public health at the local level. It
is critical that revenues intended to support public health go to
these local health departments. 

In defining priorities for the Air Pollution Control Fund, we
believe that the ARB should consider using the revenue disbursement
model developed by the California Tobacco Control Program, which
has successfully averted over a million tobacco-related deaths and
lowered health care expenditures by $86 billion.  CDPH manages this
program and local health departments serve as local lead agencies,
receiving a base allocation of funds with the ability to apply for
more on a competitive basis. This mix of funding has provided
continuity, diversity, and balance to the Tobacco Control Program,
and this model of revenue allocation would do the same for the Air
Pollution Control Fund mitigation efforts. 

The California Department of Public Health has laid out a plan for
distribution of these funds based on identification of vulnerable
and disadvantaged communities, community health assessments, and
community health improvement programs.  The health officers urge
you to follow these recommendations.

CDPH has also identified a number of evidence-based mitigation
efforts that would be targeted with these funds.  These programs
include biking, walking, public transit, transit-oriented
development, increasing fuel efficiency, creating community
transportation plans, supporting high-density housing and mixed use
development, urban forestry, and green roofs.

The health officers urge you to use cap and trade revenues to
invest in meaningful and reliable mitigation efforts. This means
investing in local health departments. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

Original File Name:

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2012-05-25 11:18:46