For communities across the country, things are tough. And now, layered on top of a relentless pandemic, an economic collapse, and yet another police shooting of an unarmed Black man, there are the extreme weather events (a massive hurricane heading toward the Gulf Coast and wildfires raging in Northern California) that have now become a regular and predictable part of our lives.
 
Any one of these things is a lot to bear. And for communities of color and people with less economic opportunity, the burden is even greater. That’s why, despite the challenges of this moment, we have to keep fighting for health equity. And that means taking on climate change.

“We are not looking to the right or left. We look forward. Together, we will change this country and this world, sure as the sun rises each morning.” –Sunrise Movement

The health of human beings and the health of our planet are inextricably linked. To be healthy, we need to be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water. We need green spaces where trees, plants, and wildlife can flourish, and fruits and vegetables can grow. And we need to be safe from catastrophic events like hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding, which climate change has made more frequent and more severe.
 
Prevention Institute stands with organizations like the Sunrise Movement that are calling for immediate and transformative action to stop climate change and preserve the health of our planet. They know that by greening our economy, we can protect our environment and create millions of good jobs at the same time. They know that too often, it’s communities of color and communities with limited resources that live on the front lines of the climate crisis and face the heaviest burden when disasters strike.

We invite you to join us, as we head into hurricane and wildfire season, in re-committing ourselves to taking care of our communities by taking care of our planet. Let’s stand up for climate justice and work for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s join with partners to fight against toxins and pollutants that are poisoning the communities with the fewest resources. Let’s support organizations that are leading this fight, like our Houston officemates, Air Alliance Houston, and our Los Angeles partners at the Park Equity Alliance, Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles, Just Environment Long Beach, and Community Coalition. And let’s push our leaders to make decisions that value health, for people and our planet.

To learn more about what health organizations can do, read the World Health Organization’s February 2020 WHO global strategy on health, environment, and climate change.

*Photo credit: LandPaths