Curiosity Weekly – "The Inequity of Climate Change"
Host: Dr. Samantha Yammine
Guest: Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Date: December 3, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Curiosity Weekly, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine, delves into the intersection of climate change and public health, focusing on how rising global temperatures and extreme weather events disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Senior producer Teresa Carey interviews Dr. Georges Benjamin to explore hopeful scientific advances, innovative community responses, and how individuals and health systems can adapt equitably to climate-driven health risks. The episode closes with a science breakdown about the limits of human metabolism, offering insights into both everyday wellness and extreme athleticism.
Main Segments & Key Insights
1. Technology & Human Limits: An Introduction
[01:35–04:59]
- Dr. Yammine introduces themes of human capability—how tech can enhance bodies, but also how environmental change creates new challenges.
- Shares news on a breakthrough for age-related macular degeneration:
- The wireless PRIMA eye implant, paired with specialized glasses, aims to restore a measure of central vision lost to this common cause of blindness in older adults.
- In a clinical trial, over 80% of 38 participants showed meaningful improvement, some regaining the ability to read.
- “The reading was slow and vision only in black and white. But it was a significant improvement, a life changing difference for people who'd largely lost the ability to read words and sentences.” (Dr. Yammine, [03:58])
2. Climate Change as a Public Health Crisis
[07:13–07:45]
- Dr. Yammine frames the conversation: As heat waves worsen and air quality declines, understanding how bodies adapt—and can’t adapt—to environmental stress is crucial.
- Teresa Carey sits down with Dr. Benjamin to discuss direct impacts and community responses.
3. Recognizing the Real-Time Impacts of Climate Change
[07:47–09:08]
- Dr. Benjamin remarks that the health effects of climate change are no longer distant, but a present reality for many communities:
- “When we first started talking about climate change, a lot of people said, it's in the future, we've got time. Well, we don't.” ([08:21])
- Emphasizes increased public awareness of the health consequences of extreme weather events.
4. Innovations for Heat Protection & Climate Adaptation
[09:08–12:51]
- Dr. Benjamin highlights smart surfaces—urban infrastructure modifications (e.g., lighter roofs, permeable roads, more trees and green spaces) that can reduce local temperatures in low-income areas by up to 10 degrees.
- “Lower income communities can be as much as 10 degrees hotter than the more affluent community.” ([09:29])
- Describes how lighter surfaces and green spaces can make a tangible difference, particularly where ventilation and air conditioning are lacking due to safety or cost.
- Health departments now use data to identify and target the most vulnerable during heatwaves, such as elderly residents in high-rise buildings.
5. Equitable Adaptation & Economic Considerations
[12:51–13:55]
- Smart surfaces are economically viable:
- “Even if it costs a little bit more money to increase the surface of the road, the incremental savings on the health side of the equation offsets the ... additional cost.” ([13:03])
- Reflects on how systemic infrastructure improvements (already done routinely) can provide health benefits and reduce disaster-response costs.
6. Focusing Public Health on Vulnerable Populations
[14:17–15:49]
- Education and preemptive action are key to protecting at-risk groups—especially those who pay a larger share of income on energy or rely on medical devices.
- Proactive measures include pre-positioning emergency supplies and reducing energy burdens.
- “One of the problems we have with lower income individuals is, is they pay a lot more of their disposable income for power.” ([15:20])
7. The Issue of Equity in Climate Health
[15:50–17:08]
- Climate change exacerbates inequality, impacting those who contribute the least but suffer the most.
- The healthcare system itself is a major contributor to carbon emissions:
- “We're saving lives on one side, but we're doing it in some cases from a climate perspective in the most inefficient manner.” ([17:12])
- Calls for transitioning hospitals to more energy-efficient systems, tackling both health outcomes and environmental impact.
8. Disease Shifts & Emerging Challenges
[17:08–18:13]
- Climate change alters the prevalence and geography of diseases, introducing new vectors (e.g., ticks, mosquito-borne illnesses).
- “The climate changes, we change the ecology, we get new bugs, new diseases ... we're seeing more Lyme disease, more mosquito borne diseases.” ([17:28])
9. The Power of Community & Collective Action
[18:13–19:54]
- Dr. Benjamin draws hope from grassroots community efforts:
- “We had people going out to check on their loved ones. There were these campaigns ... get to know your neighbor campaign for people who were preparing for the heat wave.” ([18:37])
- Collective mutual aid after disasters (like hurricanes in Florida and Jamaica) is growing and necessary as storms intensify.
10. Practical Tips: How Individuals Can Prepare
[20:05–22:51]
- Dr. Benjamin’s advice:
- Reduce personal carbon footprint: recycle, conserve energy, adjust home thermostats.
- Prepare emergency kits (“go bags”), call plans, evacuation routes, and pet plans.
- Special preparedness for those in flood zones or with disabilities.
- “One of the things that people don't often plan for is what do you do with your pets? ... what we discovered during Katrina was people will not leave their pets.” ([21:23])
- Resources available via the APHA “Get Ready” campaign.
11. The Growing Role of Equity & Collaboration in Research
[22:51–24:02]
- Research priorities have shifted to put equity and community involvement at the core:
- “When you're doing this kind of research, you want to get the community involved at the conceptual stage ... bring the community as part of that research project.” ([23:30])
- This ensures solutions are practical, accepted, and just.
12. A Hopeful Vision for Public Health
[24:02–25:09]
- Dr. Benjamin finds hope in youth engagement:
- “I've got three grandkids ... they're aware of climate change. ... they're paying attention to their own consumption of energy. ... My grandkids are now nagging me when I'm not as climate sensitive as I need to be.” ([24:26])
- Collaboration between generations helps drive positive change.
13. Science Segment: The Limits of Human Metabolism
[27:21–31:44]
- Dr. Yammine reports on a study revealing a maximum human metabolic “ceiling”—about 2.4 times our basal metabolic rate, even during extreme, prolonged physical exertion.
- Despite ultramarathons burning 10x baseline for a day, over weeks/months, the body returns to a sustainable limit.
- “That means our metabolism can rev the gas. But even when we're pushing our bodies to the max, it'll still find its way back to cruising speed. An average of just more than double the basal metabolic rate.” ([30:37])
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
"This is not one of those futuristic things. ... People are beginning to connect the dots to the terrible, terrible health impact that climate change poses."
— Dr. Georges Benjamin ([08:21]) -
“Lower income communities can be as much as 10 degrees hotter than the more affluent community.”
— Dr. Benjamin ([09:29]) -
“Let's not go in the back room, design a research project and then go do the research on the community. ... Bring the community as part of that research project.”
— Dr. Benjamin ([23:30]) -
“My grandkids are now nagging me when I'm not as climate sensitive as I need to be. That gives me a great deal of hope.”
— Dr. Benjamin ([24:26])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction & Tech Highlights: 01:35–04:59
- Climate Health Overview: 07:13–07:45
- Impacts of Climate Change: 07:47–09:08
- Smart Surfaces & Community Adaptation: 09:08–12:51
- Equity/Economic Aspects: 12:51–13:55
- Protecting Vulnerable Populations: 14:17–15:49
- Health Sector's Climate Impact: 15:50–17:08
- Emerging Diseases: 17:08–18:13
- Community Action: 18:13–19:54
- Personal Preparedness: 20:05–22:51
- Equity in Science: 22:51–24:02
- Hope for the Future: 24:02–25:09
- Human Metabolism Study: 27:21–31:44
Final Thoughts
This episode provides a comprehensive and hopeful discussion about the intersection of climate change and public health, emphasizing the importance of equity, community resilience, and practical adaptation strategies. Listeners are encouraged to take actionable steps while also advocating for systemic changes in health and infrastructure to reduce climate impact and protect the most vulnerable. Dr. Benjamin’s insights underscore that, while challenges are profound, collective action and innovation are paving the way for a healthier, more equitable future.