Report: Southeastern Colorado residents face highest health risk from climate change

A June 17 article in Colorado Politics covered findings from CHI’s 2022 Health and Climate Index, showing that residents of counties in Southeastern Colorado, Adams County, and some western and northeastern counties are at a high risk for health impacts from climate change. Many of those counties are also the least prepared to deal with the health effects of climate change.

The article quotes CHI Senior Policy Analyst Karam Ahmad, a co-author of the report: “The Health and Climate Index is an important tool for understanding the challenges — and the steps we need to take to address them. We hope this project will start necessary conversations and help communities across the state plan to adapt to our changing climate."

It also outlines the risk factors examined in the index, including social factors, health factors, climate exposure, and residents’ perceptions of global warming.

The article was picked up by the Gazette.