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.

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Are We Ready? Report 3

NACCHO surveyed a sample of LHDs across the country to understand the scope and frequency of local-level climate-related public health activities.

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Are We Ready? Report 3

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Climate and Health Guide for Local Health Departments

The Climate Change Workgroup spent a year documenting how LHDs build Climate and Health Programs and announces a new guide!

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Climate and Health Guide for Local Health Departments

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A Guide to Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

Practical guide supports rural health departments in their efforts to build a climate-ready workforce.

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A Guide to Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

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.

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Climate and Health Guide for Local Health Departments

The Climate Change Workgroup spent a year documenting how LHDs build Climate and Health Programs and announces a new guide!

Take Action

Climate and Health Guide for Local Health Departments

New Resource

A Primer to NACCHO’s “Guide to Climate and Health Programs”

This brief is a preview to NACCHO’s 2024 Climate and Health Guide, introducing four specific models for climate and health programs within LHDs.

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A Primer to NACCHO’s “Guide to Climate and Health Programs”

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Climate and Health Program Models - A Slide Deck

This customizable slide deck will assist local health departments planning on using NACCHO's A Guide to Climate and Health Programs to build capacity.

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Climate and Health Program Models - A Slide Deck

Embedding Climate Action into Local Health Departments

How NYC DoH used NACCHO's "A Guide to Climate and Health Programs."

Embedding Climate Action into Local Health Departments

Climate and Health Committee Development in Austin, Texas

Austin Public Health is in the process of developing their Climate and Health Committee with assistance from NACCHO's guide.

Climate and Health Committee Development in Austin, Texas

PHSKC Climate and Health Equity Initiative (CHEI)

Public Health – Seattle & King County's CHEI followed NACCHO’s guide to design a Climate and Health Committee and Full Climate and Health Program

PHSKC Climate and Health Equity Initiative (CHEI)

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Are We Ready? Report 3

This latest field survey finds LHDs do not feel ready to confront the present or predicted health effects of climate change.

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Are We Ready? Report 3

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Fact Sheet: Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

A brief overview and highlight of activities from the full "Guide to Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce."

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Fact Sheet: Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

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A Guide to Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

Practical guide supports rural health departments in their efforts to build a climate-ready workforce.

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A Guide to Building a Climate-Ready Rural Workforce

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Hospital Data and Climate Health Surveillance

How can more local health departments leverage Electronic Health Records as part of their climate and health data surveillance?

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Hospital Data and Climate Health Surveillance

Read

Resource Roundup on Public Health Impacts of Drought

A blog by NACCHO staff in observance of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17).

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Resource Roundup on Public Health Impacts of Drought

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A HiAP Approach to Addressing Climate Change

Stories from three local health departments on how they used HiAP to address the health impacts of climate change

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A HiAP Approach to Addressing Climate Change

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12 Steps to Operationalize Climate Change in a LHD

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

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12 Steps to Operationalize Climate Change in a LHD

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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.

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Essential Actions for Climate Resilience in LHDs

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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.

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Increasing Rural Resilience to Climate Change

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Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change

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

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Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change

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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.

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Preparing for the Health Impacts of Climate Change with HiAP

Resource

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

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NACCHO’s 2016 Profile Study: Climate Change

Facts and stats about climate change and public health

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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

Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring

Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring

Center for Heat Resilient Communities

Center for Heat Resilient Communities

National Weather Service HeatRisk

National Weather Service HeatRisk

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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