In the midst of a global pandemic, with climate disasters raging across the country, many Americans are laser focused on one date: November 3. “The most important thing we can do in this point and time is vote for leaders that care about our health and care about climate…this is the most important election in the history of the world in terms of where we’re going on climate change…” – Dr. Linda Rudolph.
“Climate change and our health, it’s not a Republican, Democrat, Independent thing, right? It’s a PEOPLE thing. We need to listen to what people are saying and ask ourselves the question, ‘Who is going to protect us, our children, those of us who are ill, those of us who are older? All of us.” – Dr. Adrienne Hollis
Our most recent health-focused Let’s Talk Climate episode included specific actions health professionals can take to elevate climate change as an election issue and get out the vote. We can educate candidates, tell our personal stories to connect climate and health impacts, and help ensure healthy voting options for everyone.
For more information and resources, make sure to subscribe to our Climate for Health newsletter, register for our upcoming episodes in the Let’s Talk Climate webcast series here, and subscribe to watch our previous episodes on ecoAmerica’s Youtube channel.
Resources mentioned during the episode:
Actions for Health Professionals
Health Voices for Climate Action
Health Is A Major Motivator for American Climate Action
Open Letter to Candidates developed by the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health
Voter Resources on Climate, Health, & Equity
Climate for Health Moving Forward Toolkit
Advocacy During an Election Year – Nonpartisan Advocacy in Partisan Times webinar
Voting and Voting Safely
ecoAmerica Voter Registration, Voting, and Getting Out the Vote Resources & Links
Defend the Vote for Public Health
The Best Way to Vote in Every State
Is the Mail Getting Slower? NYT is Tracking It
September is Preparedness Month
NEHA Supports National Preparedness Month
Get Ready for Preparedness Month 2020! (NACCHO)
Additional Engagement Videos and Resources
Environmental Racism, Climate Justice, and Health with Vernice Miller-Travis (definition of syndemic included in our discussion)
More Americans see climate change as a priority, but Democrats are much more concerned than Republicans by Brian Kennedy and Courntey Johnson
U.S. concern about climate change is rising, but mainly among Democrats by Brian Kennedy
The People’s Priorities, Examined by Frank Newport
Wind, rain and a chemical fire. Hurricane Laura was gone but the crisis wasn’t over
Watch the American Climate Leadership Summit Live Online
New Research Shows Disproportionate Rate of Coronavirus Deaths in Polluted Areas
