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CLIMATE HEALTH NOW
April 2022 Community Newsletter
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Climate Health Now is a group of doctors, nurses, and health professionals in California who recognize climate change as the public health and equity emergency of our lifetimes.
We organize and mobilize the trusted voice of health professionals to advocate for a rapid, just transition off harmful fossil fuels toward a healthy, equitable society sustained by renewable energy.
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Hello and welcome to Climate Health Now's April newsletter!
Thank you to everyone who joined our March Monthly Community Meeting that focused specifically on healthcare decarbonization and greenhouse gas emission reporting. We are honored to have been joined by Dr. Bill Pevec, Dr. Teresa Muñoz, and Jonathan Lu, MS3, to learn some basics about scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, what one large medical system in California (Kaiser Permanente) is doing around taking inventory of their emissions, and legislation that is currently in the California legislature (SB 260 - the Climate Corporate Accountability Act) that would mandate that large corporations report their emissions. If you missed it or want to rewatch or share, the recording is here and the slides are here. Please see below also for more information from Bill specifically on healthcare decarbonization!
Our Listening Campaign has kicked off! The members of our Listening Team -- Angelina Crans-Yoon, Teresa Munoz, Margie Chen, Aude Bouagnon, Cecilia Mogal, Mackensie Yore, Nightingale Wakigera, Nathan Uchtmann, and Vanessa Forsythe -- have been extremely hard at work learning the ins and outs of our member database and brainstorming how to connect with as many of our members as possible in the upcoming months. In our launch email, we incorrectly identified Cecilia's specialty -- she is a critical care doctor and anesthesiologist.
Our goal is to reach as many of you as possible to learn more about why you joined CHN, what you are most excited to work on, and what you think of our proposed areas of work for CHN. You should already have received an email from a Listening Team member inviting you to join a 20 minute one-on-one conversation. We sincerely hope you will accept the invitation to have this conversation so we can strengthen our community for taking impactful action together!
We also shared at our monthly meeting that we are going to start our first ever fundraising effort. As many of you know, we've been working on CHN for 2.5 years -- and what started as a conversation in an exam room has turned into an organization with over 600 members and the potential to be a part of catalyzing real action on climate in California. We have turned our non-clinical days into full-time CHN days (and many other days too if we're being honest!) but we need help. Our goal is to hire our first staff member to support our members taking effective action together, especially coordinating our members and fundraising to resource our mission. We're going to launch an official fundraising drive in May, with the goal of 100% member participation, but in the meantime, if you'd like to donate or spread the word, you can do so here! Currently we're set up to accept tax-deductible donations through our 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor; soon we will also be able to accept 501c4 donations as well.
Above all, thank you all for being part of this journey with us. We hope you are all staying healthy and well.
In solidarity,
Amanda Millstein and Ashley McClure
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Christine James is an allergist/immunologist in the San Diego-area and a CHN member! Watch her interview with her local CBS news station linking climate change to worsening seasonal allergies. Christine went through the rapid media training with the Med Society Consortium -- way to put your training to work Christine!
"If we don't address climate change, if we don't address these rising carbon dioxide levels, then these types of medical problems like allergies are just going to get progressively worse."
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Decarbonizing Healthcare:
Learning from Dr. Bill Pevec and his
work at UC Davis
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Did you know that the healthcare sector is responsible for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 9-10% of GHG emissions in the U.S.? If the healthcare sector were a country, we'd be the 5th largest emitter. The U.S., EU, and China alone account for more than half of global healthcare sector emissions.
And sadly that's not all - t he U.S. healthcare sector is responsible for 9% of U.S. air pollution, 12% of acid rain emissions, and 10% of smog-forming emissions.
Bill Pevec, a retired vascular surgeon, hosted a webinar on his work at UC Davis on health care decarbonization. In case you missed it, you can watch the recording here.
In Bill's words, "My goal is to make this effort contagious, spreading to as many medical centers as possible." Let's go!
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No Oil and Gas Drilling in Contra Costa County! |
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As many of you know, the pressure is mounting to resume oil and gas drilling in Contra Costa County -- and our health voices are a vital part of ensuring that this doesn't happen.
So many of us in the East Bay turned out to support the youth-led rally and march on March 12 in Antioch to say no drilling in Contra Costa! An especially huge shoutout to Lisa Chang, who spoke on behalf of health voices at the rally and did an amazing job connecting the dots between fossil fuels, health impacts, and climate change, and to Eve Yalom who helped with getting copies of handouts ready to go. And another huge shoutout to Marjaneh Moini from SF Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility for all the collaboration and coordination in making this all happen!
Things are heating up in Contra Costa -- the City of Brentwood unanimously on March 22 to ban oil and gas drilling! Another huge shout out to Lisa Chang, Cynthia Mahoney, Marjaneh Moini (from SF Bay-PSR), and Jeff Mann for leading the way on health comments! One Brentwood City Council member said she was "especially moved when she heard health professionals speaking at the Antioch rally."
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We didn't learn this in school!
Want to come up to speed quickly on why oil and gas drilling is dangerous to health? Want to share information out to other groups?
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As a result of COVID-19, medical school and residency interviews went VIRTUAL -- which was better for both applicants and the planet.
Interview without Harm is working to make medical training interviews more sustainable and equitable, for people and planet, by advocating for the continuation of virtual interviews, with in-person second look weekends.
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GoFundMe for Aid & Abet - Can You Help? |
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If you've been to a climate march or rally in the Bay Area you've probably had the great fortune of meeting Matt Leonard. Matt's organization, Oil and Gas Action Network, is our fiscal sponsor. He also runs Aid & Abet, a small nonprofit that supports social movements by providing logistics and event production support. It was Aid & Abet that made CHN's press conference on Rule 6-5 possible last year!
Sadly, Aid & Abet was robbed recently, and lost about $22,000 worth of equipment while supporting a youth climate strike on March 25.
We are wondering: if you are in a position to help, would you consider donating to help them rebuild or helping spread the word to others? You can do so here and thank you!
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Building Electrification: Climate, Health, and Equity - A Webinar hosted by SF Bay PSR |
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April 27, 6-8 pm PT -- Hosted by SF Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility and co-sponsored by PSR National, RMI, Climate Health Now, and Local Clean Energy Alliance, this webinar will feature a panel of experts about new research on the health effects of fossil fuel (“natural” gas) appliances in homes, how to protect your family, and how to advocate for a just transition to all-electric homes in CA and beyond. Please register here and spread the word!
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New Resources from the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health |
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First, a huge shoutout to Lisa Patel, who is the incoming Deputy Executive Director at the Medical Society Consortium for Climate and Health. In addition to being our friend and mentor (and Amanda's former residency classmate!), Lisa played a pivotal role in the early days of CHN, especially planning our initial skill up and helping us start to understand the intersectionality of racism, structural inequity, and climate change. She continues to influence and strongly shape our approach to advocating for climate, health, and equity and she is one of our inaugural Advisory Council members. Lisa, we are SO proud of you and excited for you!
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In case you missed it - recording of the Consortium's Annual Meeting is live! |
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The Consortium recently hosted their Annual Meeting -- and many of you attended. In case you missed it or want to rewatch any of the sessions, you can find the recordings here! These sessions cover a huge range of topics and all are outstanding - from op-ed writing to carbon pricing to meeting the authors of children's books about climate change - it's all here.
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Here are 3 new resources from the
Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health:
Please take a look and share!
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“What would it take for the health care community to dramatically accelerate adoption of equitable climate and health solutions in the next year?“ This foundational question was addressed to panelists at the session “Optimizing and Accelerating the Power of Health Professionals” during the Annual Meeting of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. Surili Patel, recent Director of the American Public Health Association's Center for Climate, Health and Equity answered unequivocally: “VOTE!”
We agree! That is why CHN’s Voting4Climate&Health team is partnering with Vot-ER to encourage our patients and colleagues to register to vote. Voting is an important social determinant of health. People who vote have better health outcomes and healthier environments, while the most disenfranchised and environmentally disadvantaged people have low voter registration and turnout rates. Lawmakers respond to people who vote. If we want all communities to enjoy clean air, drink pure water, live in a safe climate, and have access to health care, we must encourage our patients and healthcare providers to vote. Our vote is our voice! Our goal is to normalize voter registration as part of the health care process. We hope to empower all citizens, especially in environmental justice communities whose needs are not being met.
Join the effort! Using a QR code on badges or signs, Vot-ER guides patients to a non-partisan site that allows them to register to vote in just moments, without interrupting clinic workflow. You can get your own free badge here. Our team is also identifying champions at clinics and medical centers to incorporate the Vot-ER process into their workflow.
If you’d like to learn more about how you or someone you know can help us introduce Vot- ER to your facility Please contact Margie Chen or Cynthia Mahoney.
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Climate, Health and Equity: Listen, Learn, and Read |
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Climate Change is a Health Crisis -- Health Messages from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
If you haven't already seen it, the Climate and Health Alliance published this report specifically highlighting health and health messaging related to the latest IPCC report.
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We're Awash in Climate Change Data, But Health Damages Remain Undercounted
Did you know that a search of the ICD-10 database for wildfire only yields one result -- "wildfire pemphigus?" As the immense risks of climate change to our health become even more obvious, the voices of health professionals are critical for helping to make the case for policies that protect people. In doing so, doctors and nurses can help to explain how our country’s continuing reliance on polluting fossil fuels is contributing to both life-threatening chronic disease and deadly risks from stronger heatwaves, fires, storms, and floods. Read and share this piece in Health Affairs.
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Climate Change and Human Migration with Dr. Caleb Dresser
April 21, 6-7:30p PT -- American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter 2 will host a conversation with Dr. Caleb Dresser on the implications of climate change and its consequences on migration patterns, and ultimately, the health and safety of children and their families across the world. You can register here!
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After COP26 — Putting Health and Equity at the Center of the Climate Movement
Read and share this powerful piece from the New England Journal of Medicine about what comes next for climate, health and equity after COP26, authored by John Balbus and others.
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Code Blue for Patient Earth: Pathways to Resilience
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Old Docs Take New Patient: The Climate
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CHN members are getting their voices out there and talking to the public and other health professionals about climate change, health and equity. Here are just some of the highlights!
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Ashley McClure and Javier Sanchez gave a talk on health harms of climate change and health benefits of climate action to the San Bernadino Medical Society! You can check out the recording here.
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Juan Mendoza and Teresa Munoz spoke to members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley and others on how climate change and air pollution hurt our health and how we can take collective action for health and environmental justice.
Up Next:
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Jeff Mann and Amanda Millstein will be giving Sutter Virtual Grand Rounds on April 20 at 12p to make the case for health professional involvement in climate advocacy -- the info is here!
Please also join our April Community Call (see Zoom info below), which will focus specifically on effective public speaking to mobilize other health professionals to become climate advocates.
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CHN's April Monthly Community Call -
Effective Public Speaking to Mobilize Health Professionals to become Climate Advocates!
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All CHN monthly calls will be 1 hour, from 12:30-1:30 pm PT!
Next up: Wednesday, April 13, 12:30-1:30 pm PT
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81143483673?pwd=S1RPcnFVd3hrMlYzeGw4SzYvYit1dz09
Meeting ID: 811 4348 3673
Passcode: 534812
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Thank Yous and Shoutouts! |
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- To our 10 CHN Listening Team members - Angelina Crans-Yoon, Teresa Munoz, Margie Chen, Aude Bouagnon, Cecilia Mogal, Mackensie Yore, Belma Sadikovic, Nightingale Wakigera, Nathan Uchtmann and Vanessa Forsythe - for getting started on our Listening journey!
- To Alice Aguilar (again!) from Progressive Technology Project for all of her help getting CHN onboarded to Powerbase and strategizing around the Listening Campaign and for answering our many, MANY questions!
- To Marjaneh Moini from SF Bay-PSR for all of her help with prepping for the no drilling in Contra Costa events!
- To Bill Pevec for his amazing work on health care decarbonization and for sharing it with CHN members!
- To Lisa Chang for speaking at the Antioch rally against oil and gas drilling and calling in to the Brentwood City Council meeting to speak on behalf of health professionals in Contra Costa!
- To Cynthia Mahoney, Jeff Ritterman (SF Bay-PSR), Marjaneh Moini, Elizabeth Ortega (and her family), Jeff Mann, Ashley McClure (and her family), Amanda Millstein, Eve Yalon, Heather Whelan, Eric Lipsitt, Lisa Chang for marching and rallying in Contra Costa County against new oil and gas drilling!
- To all the members of the Voting4Climate&Health team for their partnership work with Vot-ER!
- To Margie Chen for all of her help with the Listening Campaign and more!
- To Chelsea Young for her help with our new fundraising efforts!
- To Teresa Munoz, Jonathan Lu, and Bill Pevec for sharing their knowledge and efforts around healthcare decarbonization at our March Community Monthly Meeting!
- To Christine James for you awesome CBS news interview on allergies and climate change!
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