"We're committed to making sure the nation knows about the effects of climate change on health. If anyone doesn't think this is a severe problem, they are fooling themselves." -- APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, in The Washington Post
New Report: Adaptation in Action
Communities across the nation are taking action to reduce the effects of climate change on health. Read Adaptation in Action Part II 2018: Grantee Success Stories from CDC's Climate and Health Program (PDF). Some examples of the successful ways communities have responded to the challenge of climate change include:
• The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts created online toolkits to guide local governments, health departments and residents during weather-related emergencies.
• The Rhode Island Department of Health's climate change program helped establish a state climate change website, developed a climate change educational film and produced other valuable resources to help state agencies communicate about climate change to the public (especially vulnerable populations) and key stakeholders.
Check out our webinar highlighting the report's success stories.
And read the Public Health Newswire guest post on the Adaptation in Action report.
Climate Changes Health
Climate change can harm the water supply, increase vector-borne disease and increase extreme weather events. Vulnerable populations such as communities of color, the elderly, young children, the poor and those with chronic illnesses bear the greatest burden of injury, disease and death related to climate change. As an APHA priority, we believe in the need for strong climate change strategies and interventions that protect people's health. The public health community plays a critical role.
Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act. And read "The Remarkable Inconsistency of Climate Denial."
Follow the conversation online using the hashtag #ClimateChangesHealth
With participation from members, experts and partners, APHA formed a multiyear strategic plan (PDF) to address climate change and health. The strategic plan was developed to support the vision, "Climate change is a national priority with broad political and social support. Our nation will address it in ways that improve public health and health equity, creating the healthiest nation in one generation."
Having focused on climate change and health throughout 2017, APHA is pleased to share that the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health, a group of member medical societies and health- and science-based organizations, recently hosted the Climate & Health Solutions Conference. The conference included presentations on a range of solutions such as: pricing carbon, accelerating the transition to clean energy, and greening the health sector. Check out the presentation slides and video recordings.
Questions? Please contact our environmental health team or reach out on Twitter to @EH_4_All.