Declaring Climate Change A Public Health Emergency –We Need Climate Health Action Now!

Climate change is the most pressing existential crisis of our lifetime. The climate crisis will have long lasting adverse impacts on health, and further exacerbate health disparities including reducing access to care. With a constant lens and focus on advancing racial justice and achieving health equity in my daily clinical duties, I can say first-hand that addressing the health harms due to climate change is about so much more than saving polar bears, planting trees in wealthy communities, and tax rebates for Teslas. Low-income, poorly resourced, underrepresented, and underserved communities have the most at stake and the most to lose when it comes to their health.

For example, my clinical practice as a family physician is geographically based in South Los Angeles, where my patients are currently living with the health consequences of our dependence on fossil fuels and the subsequent greenhouse gas emissions daily. From rising temperatures and extreme heat, to worsening air quality and water quality, to raging wildfires and so much more, my patients have the most to lose as they suffer the brunt of these worsening conditions. The lack the resources and funding to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate as other, wealthier communities are able and, unfortunately, it is they and their families who will suffer the repercussions. As family physicians, I wholeheartedly believe it is our responsibility to acknowledge climate change as an existential threat to public health and patient wellbeing, and to do all we can to declare the climate crisis a public health emergency, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, limit global warming to 1.5°C or pre-industrial targets, achieve a zero-carbon emissions economy by 2050, including decarbonizing the health sector. The medical field is so incredibly heterogeneous – with all its varied specializations and modes and types of practices, all-consuming different quantities and forms of energy in their unique ways. Between clinics and hospitals, we burn fossil fuels at staggering rates. The healthcare industrial complex is responsible for 20% of carbon-combustion within the United States – as a profession that entirely centers around patients and improving their health and wellness, we are actively working against our goals by letting these levels of dependence and consumption continue creating health harms for the very people we serve. It is important for every physician to pivot some of their advocacy and energies to address the climate crisis.

I recently co-authored a resolution to the American Medical Association (AMA) regarding this issue in collaboration with my California Primary Care colleague Dr. Ashely McClure and other physician leaders from across the country. The AMA resolution passed on the floor of the AMA House of Delegates and declared Climate Change a Public Health crisis and committed AMA resources to taking action to limit U.S. emissions and support the rapid implementation of clean energy, as well as investments in mitigation, adaption, and patient and clinician education. Importantly, our resolution also emphasizes the significant investments in climate resilience through a climate justice lens. The AMA not only passed this action but they also committed to developing a strategic plan for how they will enact this new advocacy priority.

This is a huge step forward in preserving the health and prosperity of the public that we serve, but one action will not be enough, and our efforts must not end there. Beyond this resolution, I want to encourage my health professional colleagues to work toward similar commitments across organized medicine and beyond. It’s so important that we get involved within our specialty and state societies at the county, state, and federal levels. Although climate advocacy may be intimidating – for example, there were many people who said we would never get this resolution passed through the AMA — but in the end, over 90% of physician voting delegates in the AMA House of Delegates voted to support us. With persistence and passion, it is possible.

Regardless of how daunting a task it may seem, as a physician who cares for underserved patients each day, I am certain that this work is absolutely a necessity, and not a luxury. The climate crisis continues to worsen and continued on page 22