Environment

APHA works with partners and members – including the Environment Section of APHA – to bring national attention to environmental public health issues.
 

APHA uses science-based policies developed by members as the foundation for its work on the following focus areas:

• Climate Change
• Built Environment
• Environmental Public Health Tracking
• Workforce Development

Climate Change – APHA is concerned with the public health implications of climate change—from changes in vector borne diseases to impacts on drinking water supply to extreme weather events.

APHA is co-sponsoring a webinar series "Climate Change: Mastering the Public Health Role." Topics include the basic science of climate change, impacts to human health, the role of public health in climate change action plans, vulnerable populations, communication challenges, case studies, and more.  The first session, "An Overview of Climate Change Science and Impacts to Human Health" was completed on October 13, 2009.
 

Built Environment – APHA is working to advance understanding of how the built environment can either enhance or harm health. APHA Environment Section has a built environment and health workgroup and maintains the Built Environment Institute, which hosts several sessions and a field trip at APHA annual meeting. The theme of NPHW 2006 was Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy People. APHA is a co-sponsor of the annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference. APHA advocates for national and state legislation that helps to ensure healthier communities. 

Environmental Public Health Tracking – APHA is working to increase awareness and support among the public health community and policy makers for CDC National Environmental Public Health Tracking program. The Tracking program is designed to integrate data about environmental hazards, exposures and data about diseases that are possibly linked to the environment. Check out the dynamic APHA produced resources: Keeping Track, Promoting Health, Closing the "Environmental Health Gap" and Benefits for Partners.

Workforce Development– APHA has been working to help address the critical issues facing the environmental public health workforce – dwindling numbers, lack of resources, and increasing responsibilities due to emerging issues such as preparedness. APHA was instrumental in the development of environmental public health competencies that set guidelines for effective workforce practices.

APHA is now promoting the development of national environmental public health performance standards, which will allow agencies to assess environmental health systems as part of the national public health performance standard program.