Celebrating climate and health equity efforts

Today’s guest blog post comes from Rachel McMonagle, climate change program manager for APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity.

Climate change is a growing threat to human health, especially among poor and vulnerable populations. But the crisis also presents a major health opportunity. As the United Nation’s Sept. 23 Climate Action Summit approaches, there is hope for just and affordable actions.

We can enable world economies to achieve healthier approaches to combating the climate crisis. Building healthy energy, transportation, land use and agriculture systems now will deliver immediate and sustained health benefits to all and reduce future health risks from climate change.

With a long-standing commitment to climate as a health issue, APHA is addressing climate change as a health equity issue. APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity is leading work to inspire action, advance policy and galvanize the field to address climate change as it affects the health all communities, regardless of geography, race, income or other factors.

APHA has endorsed the “U.S. Call to Action on Climate Change, Health and Equity: A Policy Agenda,” which calls for a transition to clean, safe renewable energy and energy efficiency. The agenda also supports sustainable food production and diets, active transportation, and green cities.

Such policies can lower climate pollution, reduce the incidence of communicable and non-communicable disease, improve mental health and realize significant cost savings in health care.

The Center for Climate, Health and Equity is encouraging APHA members to keep up their own good work with a new award! It recognizes and celebrates ongoing climate and health equity efforts by APHA Affiliates and Sections, SPIGs, Forums, Caucuses and Student Assembly.

Has your public health association or APHA member group prioritized climate and health equity within your discussions and projects? We want to hear from you. Apply today for an Excellence in Climate Leadership Award! A modest prize will be awarded to the winners at this year’s Annual Meeting. Application deadline: Sept. 20, 2019.

To support action on climate change in your work or community, learn more at APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity.