Climate Change and Health:
Erika Lackey-Ruwald, 19-year-old Youth Delegate from Trent University, Ontario
Erika is a first-year Trent University Nursing Student and one of the 90 youth who participated in the International Youth Summit on Climate Change this past weekend in Montreal. She is also one of the eight youth delegates under 20 years old taking part in the UN Climate Change Conference.
Erika has always been interested in the environment and particularly in the issue of climate change. She visited both the Arctic and Antarctica regions as part of the “Students on Ice” program, which offers learning expeditions to these regions to help foster understanding and respect for the planet. Through her nursing studies, Erika hopes to reach people and make the link between the effects of climate change and health more broadly known.
Question: What interests you most about climate change?
Erika Lackey-Ruwald: During high-school, I created and defended a project on climate change based on my polar voyages. My plans are to do further research on climate change and link it to health. I am also interested in doing additional research on how to promote health, prevent illness, and maintain health. These three elements are linked together and it is important for people to make the connection. I want to try to prevent health problems. We often treat the symptoms but not the problem.
For example, we can promote health through workshops. We can prevent illness by eating well. I would encourage eating locally produced food, as it is healthy for people and for their community.
I hope people will begin to see that climate change is not just a bunch of statistics, but a very real and threatening phenomenon.
Question: Do you see the effects of climate change on health in your day-to-day profession as a nurse?
Erika Lackey-Ruwald: Many climate change factors have an influence on health, such as temperature (heat stroke), air pollution/quality (cardiovascular disease), vector-borne diseases (mosquitoes), ozone depletion (cataracts). As well, I see the socio-economic impacts on communities. These include but are not limited to: education, employment, childhood development, culture and physical environment.
Question: What impact has your environmental activity had on your career as a nurse?
Erika Lackey-Ruwald: I hope to pioneer in a new profession called “Environmental Nursing”. First, I will finish my nursing studies and then continue my education by taking courses in environmental studies. Environmental Nursing will allow me to make people understand and care about the effects of climate change and how climate is directly linked to health.
Question: What actions are you taking to reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions?
Erika Lackey-Ruwald: I am a strong believer of “leading by example”. I chose to study at Trent University because it is an “eco-university”. You can even find organic food there!
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