Climate Change

As communities across the United States are faced with the health and societal effects of climate change, local health departments are uniquely positioned to identify, prevent, and respond to climate-related health impacts in an equitable manner. NACCHO aims to provide resources to ensure local health departments are equipped to take on this role, while elevating best practices and success stories at the local level.

View success stories of climate change adaptations occurring in a local health department near you!

Success stories:

  • Highlight local efforts to prepare for and build resiliency to the health impacts of climate change;
  • Support new and ongoing initiatives in other local health departments;
  • Identify best practices;
  • Provide real-world case studies; and
  • Highlight only a few of the many departments actively engaged in climate change efforts.

NACCHO invites our members to submit stories that highlight and showcase local climate change work. Click on a state below to see local climate adaptation initiatives undertaken by our Climate and Health grantees and partners.

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Get continuing education credits and learn about climate and health at the same time! With this four-hour, on-demand training from Climate for Health by ecoAmerica and NACCHO, you will strengthen your knowledge about climate change, get you started on working for climate solutions, and learn how to speak and advocate on the issue with confidence and success. The training is FREE and available on our new website along with resources and other tools for local health departments.

Prepare to take the training by signing up HERE.
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Additional resources addressing the health impacts of climate change and what local health departments are doing and can do are listed below.

Read Now

12 Steps to Operationalize Climate Change in a LHD

NACCHO's fact sheet supporting climate change efforts in local health departments

Read Now

12 Steps to Operationalize Climate Change in a LHD

Read

Essential Actions for Climate Resilience in LHDs

This document suggests actions for local public health authorities to begin examining the local health impacts of climate change.

Read

Essential Actions for Climate Resilience in LHDs

Resource

Increasing Rural Resilience to Climate Change

A roundup of relevant resources to help rural local health departments start or build on climate change initiatives in their communities.

Resource

Increasing Rural Resilience to Climate Change

Read Now

Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change

This report highlights 11 LHDs across the country engaged in climate change adaptation.

Read Now

Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change

Take Action

Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change with HiAP

Use seven strategies for implementing Health in All Policies to prepare for the health impacts of climate change in your local jurisdiction.

Take Action

Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change with HiAP

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Framing Climate Change Communications

Communications tools that can help health department officials engage the community and help them understand the local impacts of climate change.

Resource

Framing Climate Change Communications

Read Now

NACCHO’s 2016 Profile Study: Climate Change

Facts and stats about climate change and public health

Read Now

NACCHO’s 2016 Profile Study: Climate Change

Environmental Health

Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change

This factsheet highlights key points about local perceptions of climate change based on NACCHO's Are We Ready report.

Environmental Health

Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change

Environmental Health

Are We Ready? Report 2

NACCHO and GMU's Center for Climate Change Communication assessed LHD directors' perceptions of climate change impact within their jurisdictions.

Environmental Health

Are We Ready? Report 2

CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker

The CDC Heat & Health Tracker provides local heat and health information so communities can better prepare for and respond to extreme heat events.

CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker

Climate and Health: A Training for Health Department...

This training course is designed for any public health professional working in a state, tribal, local, or territorial health department.

Climate and Health: A Training for Health Department...

NOAA’s Climate and Health Outlook

Monthly editions from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE).

NOAA’s Climate and Health Outlook

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Your environment. Your health.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

NOAA’s Climate.Gov

NOAA's Climate.Gov - science & information for a climate-smart nation

NOAA’s Climate.Gov

NIHHIS’ Heat.gov

Premier source of heat and health information for the nation to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat.

NIHHIS’ Heat.gov

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

Find information and tools to help you understand and address your climate risks.

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

EPA’s Adaptation Resource Center

An interactive resource to help local governments identify local risks from climate change

EPA’s Adaptation Resource Center

Georgetown Climate Center

State and Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Georgetown Climate Center

Climate Change Indicators in the United States

Climate Change Indicators in the United States

Climate Change Indicators in the United States

Adaptation in Action

Grantee Success Stories from CDC's Climate and Health Program

Adaptation in Action

Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Health: A Toolkit

Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Health: A Toolkit

The NACCHO Global Climate Change Workgroup is committed to providing leadership and resources to support local health department climate change efforts. The workgroup is comprised of local health officials, environmental health professionals, environmental health directors, and subject matter experts who are interested in enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and practices.

The workgroup holds at least one in-person meeting (pending funding), monthly conference calls, and work in between meetings. In addition, the workgroup reviews documents and participates in judging model practice applications throughout the year. Appointment to the workgroup is for a two-year term with an option for reappointment to a second two-year term. Message [email protected] for more information.

Below are some of the most recent webinars hosted by NACCHO related to climate change. For additional resources, check out NACCHO's Toolbox where you can filter out tools in the Climate Change Toolkit.

Get to Know Your NACCHO Climate Ambassador Community (October 2023)

Climate for Health Ambassadors from local health departments across the country met to discuss their work and learn about new tools and resources for climate action.

NACCHO & CDC Food Safety Sharing Session Recap: Climate Change & Food Safety (April 2022)

The webinar provided examples of the science behind climate change, its impact on the environment and our health, and what this means for food safety and food security. The sharing session also explained some of the recent expansion of climate change work at the federal level and helped provide context on how current food safety issues experienced at the local level are linked to climate change.

Western Wildfires – Keeping Communities from Polluted Air (May 2018)

See the role that local health departments play in preparing for and responding to wildfires and the health impacts of wildfire smoke.

NACCHO's Climate Change Community of Practice provides a space for individuals who are interested in, or work with, climate change resilience and mitigation. This virtual community can be used to share information, best practices, and resources relevant to climate change, and allow for participants to virtually network with others who work in this area of public health. To join, go to https://virtualcommunities.naccho.org/communities/allcommunities and search for "Climate Change."

Environmental Health Program

Chelsea Gridley-Smith

Director of Environmental Health

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Environmental Health Program

Angana Roy

Sr. Program Analyst - Environmental Health

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Environmental Health Program

Aliyah Al-Sadi

Program Analyst, Environmental Health

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