Act on Climate

There is No Planet B

Take Action Today

Climate change is a growing public health crisis that is hitting our most vulnerable communities first and hardest. We cannot afford to wait. Public health leaders, health care providers, and communities must step forward to drive bold, equitable climate action. By confronting climate change today, we protect lives, reduce health inequities, and strengthen the resilience of every community. Act now to safeguard health and build a safer, healthier future for all. #ActOnClimate

Find ways to take climate action

Take Action Today

  • Participate in APHA's legislative action alerts and urge policymakers to #ActOnClimate.
  • Support the Make Polluters Pay Campaign to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the climate crisis and demand climate justice.

Ways You Can Stay Involved

Climate-Related Press Releases and More

Hear what APHA has been saying about climate change in our most recent news releases.

Roll back of EPA mercury and air toxic standards increases health risks putting all Americans at risk

APHA strongly condemns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule to rollback the 2024 updated Mercury and Air Toxic Standards for the power sector. These standards have already reduced 90% of mercury emissions from the power sector.

APHA and several organizations sue EPA over illegal repeal of climate protections

APHA, Health and environmental groups challenge the Trump EPA’s harmful, unscientific and illegal repeal of the endangerment finding and elimination of clean vehicle standards.

APHA and several health leaders say endangerment finding repeal disregards health harms

The action also includes the elimination of federal standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks.

APHA joins broad coalition of groups condemning illegal inaction of EPA

The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has failed to meet a Feb. 7 deadline to designate areas in violation of the strengthened 2024 national air quality standard for soot, as required under the Clean Air Act. 

APHA State and Local Engagement on Climate Action

The most ambitious climate action is happening at the state and local levels, yet health equity and meaningful community engagement are not always centered in these efforts. That’s why in 2022, APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity launched a pilot program supporting five APHA Affiliate state public health associations to help health professionals lead policy campaigns focused on climate justice and communities most affected by climate change. Through this work, APHA aimed to strengthen state-level leadership to advance equitable, health-centered climate policy. Learn more about APHA State Partners for Climate and Health Equity.

To build off of the pilot program, we collaborated with six APHA affiliates by providing grants and training to raise awareness about smart surfaces’ benefits, influence local policies and planning, and drive regional smart surface projects from 2023 to 2025. Our commitment to health equity was ingrained throughout the project. Through this lens, we assessed how smart surface projects impact different communities, ensuring no one is left behind. Our Affiliates also focus on community engagement as they involve residents, especially those in underserved areas, to co-create solutions. Learn more about our Affiliates' work for smart surfaces.

Climate Communications Bootcamp

Climate Change BootcampView our Climate Communications Bootcamp to build skills around delivering key climate and health messaging, as well as how to communicate and engage with policymakers, media and other key audiences.

Learn why reaching policymakers matters

Learn why reaching the media and public matters

Campaigns and Coalitions

APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity participates in various campaigns and coalitions to advance health equity in the face of climate change, including the Alliance for Heat Resilience and Health (AHRH), Public Health for Community Power (PH4CP) Coalition, and APHA’s Campaign for the Public’s Health.

Read the Latest Climate Change Posts From Public Health Newswire

An AI center looms close to homes in July 2024 in Stone Ridge, Virginia

Q&A with NAACP: Addressing the growing environmental harms of AI data centers

Abre’ Conner, JD, director of the NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, spoke to The Nation’s Health about the health harms of AI data centers and how public health professionals can work to protect communities from harm. 
Climate health experts present at a March event on climate change and human health

Local organizations using partnerships to protect health, environment

Simple but targeted actions can make a big difference in protecting people from environmental health harms. 
A child looking sad waves from a bus window to someone

Op-ed: Children shouldn’t have to defend themselves from climate change

Earlier this month, the federal government announced the repeal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding, the 2009 scientific determination that carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases threaten public health. 
Protestors carry sign saying "Fossil Fuel Phase Out Now"

Q&A: Fossil fuel combustion is endangering public health

Fossil fuel combustion harms every system of the human body at every stage of life and continues to drive climate change. A recent APHA-endorsed report details the full extent of the health hazards of fossil fuels, from the air humans breathe to the water they drink. 

Additional Resources

APHA Policy Reports and Recommendations

Explore APHA Public Health Policy Briefs on Climate-Related Issues