Climate change is not just killing our planet, but is also threatening human health.

A new study has found that about 900 deaths, 21,000 hospitalizations and $10 billion in added healthcare costs were attributed to climate-sensitive events in 2012 alone.

The new findings have suggested that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but 'represents a major public health emergency' in the United States.

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A new study has found that about 900 deaths, 21,000 hospitalizations and $10 billion in added healthcare costs were attributed to 10 climate-sensitive events (pictured) in 2012 alone

The research was compiled by a team of experts from Columbia University, the University of California Los Angeles and the non-profit environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Ten climate-sensitive events that hit 11 US states in 2012 were analyzed for the study published in journal GeoHealth.

CLIMATE EVENTS Wildfires: Colorado and Washington

Ozone air pollution: Nevada

Extreme heat: Wisconsin

Infectious disease outbreaks of tick‐borne Lyme disease: Michigan

Mosquito‐borne West Nile virus: Texas

Extreme weather: Ohio

Impacts of Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey and New York

Allergenic oak pollen: North Carolina

Harmful algal blooms: Florida Advertisement

The team examined wildfires in Colorado and Washington, ozone air pollution in Nevada, extreme heat in Wisconsin, infectious disease outbreaks of tick‐borne Lyme disease in Michigan and mosquito‐borne West Nile virus in Texas, extreme weather in Ohio, impacts of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York, allergenic oak pollen in North Carolina, and harmful algal blooms on the Florida coast.

'Applying a consistent economic valuation approach to published studies and state estimates, we estimate total health‐related costs from 917 deaths, 20,568 hospitalizations, and 17,857 emergency department visits of $10.0 billion in 2018 dollars, with a sensitivity range of $2.7–24.6 billion,' reads the study.

The team found Hurricane Sandy, which hit was 'the deadliest and most destructive' hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, to have the most devastating impact.

The storm struck the coastline of the northeastern US states on October 29, 2012, delivering up to one foot of rain within two days and causing power outages for more than 20 million residents for periods of days to weeks.

The team found Hurricane Sandy (pictured is Seaside Heights, NJ after the storm hit), which hit was 'the deadliest and most destructive' hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, to have the most devastating impact

Sandy's breadth pushed much more water into New Jersey and New York, dropped 3 feet of snow in West Virginia, caused 20-foot waves on the distant Great Lakes and registered other records reflecting whopping energy.

The 100-year storm resulted in nearly 300 deaths and $3.1 billion in extra medical bills.

Wildfires that spread through Colorado also left a trail of devastation.

The state's 2012 wildfire season forced the evacuation of 32,000 residents in the northwestern quadrant of Colorado Springs where 347 homes were destroyed in the Waldo Canyon Fire, the largest number in state history.

'Colorado fire departments reported 4,167 wildland fires through the National Fire Reporting System,' according to a preliminary report on the season by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

'These fires destroyed more than 648 structures, killed six civilians, burned more than 384,803 acres and have caused at least $538 million in property losses.'

Wildfires that spread through Colorado also left a trail of devastation. The state's 2012 wildfire season forced the evacuation of 32,000 residents in the northwestern quadrant of Colorado Springs where 347 homes were destroyed

'Climate change represents a major public health emergency. But its destructive and expensive toll on Americans' health has largely been absent from the climate policy debate,' said study lead author Dr. Vijay Limaye, a scientist in NRDC's Science Center. 'Our research shows that health-related costs added at least another 26 percent to the national price tag for 2012 severe weather-related damages.

'This continuing untold human suffering and staggering cost is another reason we must take assertive action to curb climate change now. Cutting greenhouse gas pollution and expanding clean energy, while also investing in preparedness and climate adaptation, is the prescription for a safer, healthier future.'

Since 2012, annual temperatures have continued to rise, and the five hottest years on record globally have all been in the last five years.

While the U.S. experienced $11 billion weather disasters in 2012, that total was exceeded in 2016, 2017, and 2018, according to data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NOAA annual extreme weather cost estimates do not include health costs.

The study estimated a total health‐related costs from 917 deaths, 20,568 hospitalizations, and 17,857 emergency department visits of $10.0 billion in 2018 dollars, with a sensitivity range of $2.7–24.6 billion

'Our research signals that all told, there could be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in health costs already from recent climate-related exposures nationwide,' said study co-author Dr. Kim Knowlton, senior scientist at NRDC. 'It's clear that failing to address climate change, and soon, will cost us a fortune, including irreversible damage to our health.'

The report found that more than two-thirds of the illness costs were paid for by Medicare and Medicaid.

That aligns with research showing that older adults and the economically-disadvantaged are among those most vulnerable to harm from climate change.