Climate change fight is a wise investment February 15, 2020

Mary Ann Gonzales, MD, Texas PSR | The Austin American-Statesman

Austin’s initiative to mitigate carbon emissions is a starting point in the climate conversation. The question really shouldn’t be how much will it cost to plant trees, but what is the cost of doing nothing? As a physician and board president of Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility, I am keenly aware of the health impacts of climate change. We are seeing rising cases of asthma, heat stroke, heart disease, vector borne illnesses, and other conditions that are a direct result of climate and pollution. Factor in the cost of natural disasters in terms of both human displacement and health, and $500,000 is clearly a wise investment.