Albany County Department of Health Kristen Navarette, Commissioner MD, MPH, FAAP, DipABLM 175 Green Street Albany, NY 12202 Phone (518) 447-4580 Fax (518) 447-4698 Mon – Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Climate and Health

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What is climate change?

Climate change means big changes in weather and temperature over time. It can happen naturally, but people are making it happen faster by burning fuels like gas, oil, and coal, and cutting down too many trees.

How can climate change affect you?

Climate change can hurt your health in many ways. It can make you more likely to get hurt, sick, or even die. It can make current health problems worse and cause new ones. Not everyone is affected—it depends on where you live and who you are.

Infographic: Impact of Climate Change on Human Health (explained in page text)

Who is most at risk?

Some people are more likely to be hurt by climate change, such as:

Young children
Pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum people
Older adults
People facing barriers and experiencing disparities
- People with lower incomes
- People who do not speak English or are left out socially
- People of color
- People without a home
People with disabilities
People with chronic medical conditions
Outdoor workers

Helpful Information

How climate change affects Albany County

Albany County is already seeing the effects of climate change. We experience hotter days, more rain and floods, and bad air quality. There’s also a greater risk of getting sick from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. These problems will likely get worse in the future.

Across New York State, the weather is warming up during all seasons. Albany and nearby counties- like Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Washington- can expect more heat waves. A heat wave is when it’s over 90 degrees for three days in a row.

Right now, Albany usually has one really hot day (over 95 degrees) each year. By 2050, that could jump to 7 and 16 very hot days each year. By the end of the century, it could be 13 and 44 days.

Temperatures in our area may rise by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees by the 2050s and up to 10.5 degrees by the 2080s. Winters will be milder with less snow and more rain. Winter rainfall could rise by 7% to 21% by the 2050s and by 15% to 30% by the 2080s.

Albany County may also get heavier rainstorms. This can lead to flooding. Rainfall could rise by 3% to 11% by the 2050s and by 6% to 14% by the 2080s compared to the past.

Some places in Albany County are close to the Hudson River. When there’s a lot of rain and the ocean tides rise, the river can flood. By the 2050s, the water in the Hudson River could rise by 12 to 17 inches. This may cause flooding at Albany’s two wastewater treatment plants near the river.

These changes mean hotter summers, wetter winters, and more extreme weather events in the future.