A woman smiles while working in a community garden

Climate change is one of the biggest health emergencies we face today.

Join APHA in taking swift, ambitious action to mitigate the health effects of climate change. Visit APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity, which leads public health efforts to inspire action on climate and health equity, advance policy and galvanize the field to address the climate crisis. 

Climate Change NPHW 22 375Latest Updates

  • Learn about our new heat initiatives and resources this summer. 
  • Take our BRACE training to further your climate and health work. (In partnership with ecoAmerica)
  • Check out this new report, Fueling Sickness: The Hidden Health Costs of Fossil Fuel Pollution, revealing the direct health impacts of fossil fuel use.
  • Take climate action today!

Why Is Climate Change a Public Health Issue? 

As rising global temperatures disrupt the interconnected systems in our environment, we are vulnerable to catastrophic conditions. Extreme heat, severe storms, air pollution, wildfires and the spread of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases threaten the physical and mental health of all communities.

APHA focuses on protecting populations who are disproportionately affected, including people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness and outdoor workers. Learn more:

 

Related Articles

APHA statement on the passing of Dr. William Foege

APHA mourns the loss of Dr. William H. Foege, a titan of public health whose life and work made people around the world healthier and safer. From his leadership in the eradication of smallpox to his service as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Foege consistently applied science, innovation, and moral clarity to address the most pressing public health challenges of his time.

Congress must pass bipartisan FY 2026 bill without delay

The bipartisan agreement on the FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill rightly maintains funding for most public health agencies and programs, rejecting proposals to drastically eliminate and cut funding for agencies and programs that are essential to protecting and improving the nation’s health.

Leading Public Health Groups Seek Expedited Injunctive Relief Against Immunization Schedule Changes, Upcoming ACIP Meeting; Hearing Scheduled Friday, February 13

A group of medical professional societies, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and including the American Public Health Association, seek to enjoin the upcoming February 25-26 ACIP meeting and vacate recent changes to the pediatric immunization schedule. 

Trump-RFK Jr.’s new vaccine schedule puts families at risk

This is health policy malpractice at the highest level and must be reversed before children and families across the country suffer. 

Get Involved

Explore more topics