Jerry Abraham, MD, MPH, CMQ
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 wealthy people’s 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 them 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 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℃ 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 of it’s 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 regarding this issue in collaboration with my colleague California Primary Care colleague Dr. Ashely McClure, and with 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, as previously mentioned, but they also committed to developing a strategic plan for how they will enact this new advocacy priority.
By Dr. Jerry P Abraham, Director & Chief Vaccinologist, KEDREN Mobile + CDU Street Medicine
