Dermatology at the intersection of climate change, social justice, and children's health

Today's children will inherit a warming world. Atmospheric concentrations of major greenhouse gasses have risen by 45% since 1990, precipitating increases in global surface temperatures and extreme weather events affecting 4.2 billion people worldwide [1]. Changing weather patterns destabilize agricultural systems and have altered the geographic distribution of vector-borne illnesses, seasonality and intensity of immunogenic exposures, and levels of UV radiation. These effects have already led to mass climate migrations in multiple world regions and have significant consequences for healthcare burden and dermatologic disease [2]. To help combat this crisis, physicians must recognize that climate change is both an important social determinant of health (SDH) and a worsening public health threat.