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Thought Leadership, Current Events, and Resources for Climate Communicators
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Local Action Is Still My Reason for Climate Optimism
Hello again, Climate for Health community. Almost five years ago, when I was newly at the helm of the American Public Health Association’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity, I introduced myself to you the same way I’m about to now: by answering the question I get asked more than any other. Where do you…
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Climate Solutions to Build Health Equity and Community Ownership
The path to climate and health solutions must balance thoughtful consideration of justice and equity issues and rapid implementation of essential mitigation and adaptation strategies…
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Meet Kutemwa Ogbu: Leading Climate and Health Conversations in South Texas
In the small farming community in southeast Montana, Big Sandy, healthcare professionals, farmers, and community members gathered on July 12th, 2025, for the first day of a two-day summit…
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Dr. Plastic Picker: How I decided to go All In on Climate Solutions
Plogging is jogging while picking trash. Plalking is walking while litter-picking. Plurfing is gathering plastic while surfing. #fillabag is when you find a bag and fill it with trash. There is an entire lexicon and culture within the Instagram trash collecting world. You can clean the environment while jogging, paddle-boarding or surfing. You can make…
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Using Tools We Have to Ensure a Healthy Environment for Children
Last summer, one of my patients, a 10-year-old boy I’ll call James, came to see me for a sports physical before starting a summer sports camp through a local community recreation center. James is obese, and also has asthma and allergies. We had been talking for a while about working on his nutrition and encouraging…
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It’s Time to Wake Up to Threat of Climate Change, and to Act
As pediatricians and trainees, we have all experienced moral awakenings that have compelled us to take action to protect children. As I step outside each day in San Francisco during the pandemic, putting on my mask reminds me of a time of moral awakening: the fall of 2018, when the Camp Fire raged through Paradise,…
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Climate Action for Children’s Health
As a Pediatrician, I am well-versed in providing guidance to families to keep their kids healthy. Cut back on sugary drinks. At least 1 hour of physical activity per day. Limit screen time. Brush your teeth. The more time I have been in practice, the more I have learned that these individual choices are not…
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Opportunities for Pediatric Leadership: Wildfire Smoke a Growing Threat to Vulnerable Children
Halloween. Daylights Savings. Wildfire smoke. Evacuations. Power outages. All of these things are associated with transitions from summer to fall in Northern California. This year alone more than 3.5 million acres have burned, and we’re still in the midst of the carnage. Four weeks ago we had an entire day of darkness, the layer of…
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A Pediatrician’s Journey into Climate Advocacy
I am a pediatrician and I advocate on behalf of America’s greatest resource – our children. The first patient that died under my care was an infant who stopped breathing in his sleep. He was rushed to the hospital with CPR in progress but we could not resuscitate him. I can still hear the lullaby…
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Celebrating Children’s Health Month in October: Actions & Resources
Time is harder to keep track of these days, and we continue to face compounding crises assaulting our health, environment, democracy, and economy. But, just around the corner is that glimmer of hope we continue to look for. October starts this week, and marks the beginning of one of our favorite monthly themes: children’s health.…
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Miami University (OH) Commits to a Sustainable Future on the Autumn Equinox
On September 22, 2020, the first day of autumn, an equinox occurred marking when the sun passed directly over the earth’s equator. Prior to and after today, day and night times will be uneven, but for today, day and night time will be equal in length. This image of balance is fundamental to a new…
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Insight into Climate Change & Local Preparedness Efforts with NACCHO
In the present moment, and mere days before World Environmental Health Day on September 26, the intersection between climate change and preparedness is, sadly, quite clear. Scientists have warned for years that climate change could and would worsen weather-related events. Today, we see stark examples unfolding across the United States as the nation recognizes National…
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Recording Available: A Vote for Health is a Vote for Climate
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…
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Leading U.S. Health Organizations Call for Action on Mental Health and Climate Change
Last month, as part of American Climate Leadership Summit 2020, 17 national organizations publicly announced the Social Climate Leadership Group (SCLG), a newly formed effort to address the mental health aspects of climate change. The launch also included the group’s Vision and a Call (below) for others to join. The SCLG intends to accelerate attention…
