Copy

Vacations are wrapping up and school is back in session. While other parts of the country experience extremely hot and dry conditions, here in Georgia, our August continues to be wet and rainy. Climate change is helping Atlantic hurricanes pack more of a punch, making them rainier, intensifying them faster and helping the storms linger longer even after landfall. What that means for us as health care professionals is that we must be prepared and help our patients prepare. We all need an emergency disaster kit.

Advocacy

EPA proposes new GHG standards. Comment period August 25th. To register to attend the hearing (to testify or listen-only), please email ASD-Registration@epa.gov by August 18, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks by setting stringent requirements for reductions through Model Year (MY) 2026. The proposed 2023-2026 MY standards would achieve significant GHG emissions reductions along with reductions in other pollutants. The proposal would result in substantial public health and welfare benefits, while providing consumers with savings from lower fuel costs. The proposal would incentivize technology available today to make vehicles cleaner and to encourage more hybrid and electric vehicle technology. Comment and Public Hearing Information: To submit a comment for this proposed rulemaking, please visit regulations.gov and access the rule under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0208. EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on this proposal on August 25, 2021. A possible additional session will be held on August 26th if necessary to accommodate all those who wish to testify. More information and registration instructions can be found on the Public Hearing page.

Action Alerts, Op-Eds and Resources


The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) released a new report on the “state of the science” on climate change. It tells us that stabilizing global warming at 1.5°C -- the goal of the Paris Agreement -- is still achievable if the world acts quickly, and that every fraction of a degree matters for human health. Congressional action on infrastructure and transportation will have a major impact on whether we stay under 1.5°C and how prepared we are for the unavoidable impacts of a warming world.

There are major budget negotiations underway in Congress right now. The health voice has power here - and we need to use it. Hundreds of us have already contacted our reps in Congress to let them know just how critical climate action is for the health of our patients and communities. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and promote health in the era of climate change by encouraging policymakers to embrace these priorities. Use your voice!

Join Fight Against Climate Change to Protect Health | Georgia Health News

By Anne Mellinger-Birdsong, MD and June Deen

In the past year, a global pandemic killed millions of people worldwide and thousands here at home. COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in our health system and health inequities as people of color became infected and died at higher rates. We are coming out of the pandemic, but will we apply the lessons we learned going forward? We face another health crisis: climate change. We already see that climate change is degrading air quality in the United States and harming health. Read More

How Heat Kills: Deadly Weather ‘Cooking’ People From Within

By Neha Pathak, MD

In the final week of July, the National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for 17 states, stretching from the West Coast, across the Midwest, down south into Louisiana and Georgia. Temperatures 10 to 15 F above average threaten the lives and livelihoods of people all across the country. Read More

CALL TO ACTION: Health and Equity benefits of clean energy, energy democracy and environmental justice among rural electric co-ops. Diversity and inclusion on rural electric co-op boards for success.

By Linda Walden, MD, FAAFP

Rural America especially in the Southeast in Georgia and Mississippi are responsible for much of our supply of food and power for electricity. The current power sources used are unclean energy causing air pollution from the use of fossil fuels such as natural gas, and coal. Petroleum emitting toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane are toxic to our health, causing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, as well as cancer. It is these gases along with exhaust fumes trapping heat in the atmosphere creating ground ozone (smog) and increasing the temperature that is worsening climate change. Read More

New Heat Resources

Download or order copies of our new trifold brochure. English and Spanish versions are available on our website.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURES>

Join GCCA Workgroups Today!

What are your strengths? Are you interested in leading or joining one of the GCCA committees? Let us know.

Advocacy, policy, legislation

Education and training

Fundraising

Community engagement

Membership

Thank you for subscribing to the monthly Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action newsletter. If you are not already a member, join GCCA today and share with your colleagues.

Twitter iconWebsite iconEmail icon

Support GCCA efforts to educate others

Our mailing address is:

701 S Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

Copyright (C) 2021 Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action (GaCCA). All rights reserved.

Update Preferences | Unsubscribe

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp