Caring for Health through Climate Action By Ben Fulgencio-Turner , MPP , CPH
Climate-related weather disasters are becoming more frequent , more extreme , and are lasting longer ( Smith , 2023 ). Wildfires , hurricanes , inland flooding , and heat waves directly threaten human health . But the aftermath of these events can be just as hazardous as the disasters themselves , especially power outages or polluted air and water . Of the nearly 3,000 people who died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria , the vast majority died in the months after the hurricane ( Acevedo , 2022 ). Outside of extreme events , high temperatures and poor air quality are serious health hazards , especially for children , older adults , and people with preexisting conditions such as diabetes or heart disease ( World Health Organization , 2021 ). Mental health is affected as well , both due to acute trauma and chronic exposure to the risks and anxieties of climate change ( Clayton , et al , 2021 ).
Whatever their specialty , nurses will continue to be on the front lines of the climate crisis , caring for patients whose health has been threatened by the impacts of climate change . It is understandable to want to turn away from this . It can feel too big and too complex . But climate solutions start locally and have immediate benefits . Reducing emissions improves air quality and switching to green energy is more efficient and can save money . Nature-based climate solutions have tremendous benefits for physical and mental health ( Kolokotsa , et al , 2021 ). And if you , personally , have felt anxiety about climate change , know that taking action can help to break out of a cycle of anxiety and inaction ( Clayton , et al , 2021 ). There are resources for nurses to take action , protecting patient health , adapting to new risks , and reducing climate impacts for a healthier and safer future .
Not only are nurses on the front lines of climate change , they are also positioned to be leaders on climate . Nurses are the most trusted professionals in the country , beating not just used car salesmen and politicians , but judges , police , teachers , and physicians ( Yale School of Nursing , 2022 ). Inside the exam room and in the community , people listen to and respect nurses . And the strongest motivator for people to act on strategies to address climate change is to protect personal and public health ( Brown , et al , 2023 ). People understand that health matters , and they trust nurses as an authority on the subject of health . As a nurse , you can drive change at your facility , at your university , within your profession , and at the community and policy level . These changes may start small , like reducing unnecessary single-use plastics in a facility or organizing community outreach on heat wave safety . But the impacts of these successes grow , spreading to build a collective impact through local action .
Resources From ecoAmerica The Climate for Health program at ecoAmerica works closely with the National Student Nurses ’ Association ( NSNA ) to offer tailored resources for nursing students . One resource is the Climate for Health Ambassador Program . This four-hour training covers the impacts of climate change on human health and health equity , climate solutions ranging from big picture to small on-the-ground actions , the immediate health benefits of climate action , and the best practices for climate communications and engagement . The goal of the training is to increase knowledge and confidence , linking trainees with resources and actionable paths to take climate action in professional and personal life . This training was provided in workshops at the NSNA MidYear Conference and the NSNA Annual Convention .
Upon completing the free training , participants are invited to join a community of thousands of Ambassadors across the US . This group includes not only health professionals but faith leaders and local community advocates sharing opportunities to engage and collaborate on meaningful climate action . The cross-sector opportunities include local community gardens , clinical training programs , and policy advocacy at the local , state , and national level . The ecoAmerica team provides ongoing support and resources to Ambassadors , helping to highlight successes and solve challenges .
The Climate for Health program also manages ClimateRx , a badge-based campaign for health professionals to engage patients , colleagues , and the community on climate as part of their everyday life ( ecoAmerica , 2022 ). The badge includes a QR code that directs to the ClimateRx website where there is actionable information about the health risks of change and what patients and communities can do to protect their health . The program is designed to be non-interruptive and non-confrontational ; it does not ask that clinicians become full-time advocates . By wearing the badge and having short conversations about how patients and providers can protect health from climate impacts , nurses can bring climate change into the clinical setting in an appropriate way that does not interfere with patient care . All NSNA members can receive a free badge today .
40 NSNA IMPRINT • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2023 • www . nsna . org