A passion project for Marianne Jankowski, DHSc, MBA, MSPH, RRT, from The Chicago School Public Health Department, is educating others on the interconnectedness of climate change and one’s overall health. As an environmental advocate, Dr. Jankowski hopes to help others protect the environment and ultimately the personal health of humans through self-education, awareness, and advocacy.
Some environmental challenges that we may not realize impact our own health include:
— Climate change and indoor air quality
— Climate change and food insecurity associated with sea-levels rising
— Greenhouse/carbon emission and health equity
— Climate health and disease prevention
To learn more on your risk and how to advocate, check out these resources:
The Climate and Health Alliance is an organization that focuses on the health impacts of climate change. Their website provides resources, publications, and news related to climate and health.
The Lancet Countdown is an annual report that tracks the relationship between public health and climate change. It provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research and trends.
Health Care Without Harm is an organization working to make health care more sustainable. Their resources include reports and tools addressing the intersection of health care, climate change, and environmental sustainability.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) provides information on air quality and health and focuses on reducing short-lived climate pollutants that have both climate and health impacts.
The Climate Reality Project was founded by former Vice President Al Gore and aims to mobilize action on climate change. Their blog section covers various aspects of the relationship between climate change and health.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducts research on environmental factors, including climate, and their impact on human health.
These resources offer a wealth of information on the health impacts of climate change and strategies for addressing the challenges from a public health perspective. The field is dynamic, and new research and reports are regularly published, so it’s beneficial to stay updated on the latest developments.