Abstract
Health care professionals and organizations have attempted to advance sound climate policies through educational efforts including conferences, symposia, webinars, and policy and scientific statements. Unfortunately, these approaches have failed to make a substantial impression on the public or elected officials. In view of rapid environmental degradation, our industry must urgently marshal every resource at its command to protect patients and communities. The power and influence of health care can offset pressures and retribution from entrenched fossil fuel interests. Ethically, the shared mission of our industry is saving lives, reducing suffering, and promoting the best possible health for all. We have the expertise and obligation to help reduce the health impacts of climate disruption. As leaders, we must move our organizations from passive concern to active engagement in fighting for a healthy future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moulton, AD. Needed: new authority to build public health system capacity for Climate Change. J Public Health Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-019-00210-4.
IPBES. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Bonn: IPBES Secretariat; 2019. https://www.ipbes.net/global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-services. Accessed 9 Oct 2019.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Summary for policymakers. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pörtner H-O, et al, editors. Global Warming of 1.5 °C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization; 2018. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. National health expenditure accounts—historical. https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/nationalhealthaccountshistorical.html. Accessed 7 Nov 2019
Commins J. US healthcare leaves a big carbon footprint. HealthLeaders; 2018. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/us-healthcare-leaves-big-carbon-footprint. Accessed 18 Oct 2019.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Snyder, B.D. The climate emergency: where is health care?. J Public Health Pol 41, 24–27 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-019-00211-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-019-00211-3