President Barack Obama will make the case that climate change is hazardous to public health as the White House launches an initiative aimed at addressing its effects on communities.

The president will highlight the link between climate change and public health during a round-table discussion Tuesday afternoon at Howard University. The event and the White House’s rollout of several other actions are intended to convey the urgent need to prepare for and reduce the consequences of climate change, administration officials said.

“This is not just a future threat — this is a present threat,” said Brian Deese, a senior adviser to the president.

While climate change is often associated with calamitous events like hurricanes and wildfires, Mr. Deese said the impacts on people’s health go beyond injuries from extreme weather. A changing climate will lead to more asthma attacks, more heat-related deaths and more allergens in the air, he said.

This week’s announcements are part of a broader administration effort to show the public that inaction on climate change will affect people where they live. Polls show public skepticism about the need to act now.