Health & Climate Change

Why it matters: Our dependence on cars doesn’t just hurt the environment—it harms our health. Autos emit toxic pollutants, like benzene and arsenic, into the air we breathe, causing asthma and lung cancer. Cars also promote a less active way of life, which contributes to the obesity epidemic. By creating a transportation system that reduces our dependence on automobiles and increases our use of public transit, walking, and biking, we will reduce toxins in the air and increase our physical activity, which will decrease our risk for obesity, asthma, and lung cancer.

How we did it: In May 2009, Upstream disseminated a Health Impact Assessment on Policies Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in Oregon Metropolitan Areas to legislators and policy makers throughout the state.  The report included recommendations to increase physical activity, decrease air pollution, and decrease car fatalities while reducing vehicle miles traveled.

In 2010, Upstream completed a Health Impact Assessment on Transportation Policies in the Eugene Climate and Energy Action Plan in collaboration with City of Eugene Office of Sustainability, Community Health Partnership: Oregon's Public Health Institute, and Lane County Public Health.  This report examines the health benefits and negative impacts of transportation recommendations within the Eugene Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP). It examines seven objectives within the CEAP and summarizes the scientific evidence that links those policies to health issues in Eugene. Those health issues include injuries and chronic diseases that will be impacted by the CEAP objectives through changes in collisions rates, physical activity, and air pollution.