Day One focused on community-driven climate and health equity action at the state and local levels and will begin with an introductory panel of leaders describing community-focused climate and health equity work in their states. It included two hourlong, interactive breakout sessions, in which participants focused on, among other questions, the needs of frontline and fenceline communities; public health capacity; a just transition; and action-oriented systemic change.
Day Two focused on state innovations and challenges in advancing health equity and climate action. It began with an overview of the key themes of the climate laws of five leading states: Illinois, Washington, Massachusetts, California and New York, and a panel of leaders discussing key themes related to the laws. Participants joined one hourlong, interactive breakout session, in which they discussed, among other questions, measurement and evaluation; government engagement with communities; how federal incentives can enable or hinder states; and lessons learned from COVID-19.
For additional details and specific timing, see the attached agenda, and to watch a recording of the event, see the playlists below.
In October 2021, the Environmental Health Matters Initiative (EHMI) organized the workshop Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity—A New Vision, which provided an overview of how changing climate conditions exacerbate existing health inequities experienced by communities across the United States. The workshop identified a broad set of potential actions and actors that could lead efforts to address the intersection of climate change, health inequity and environmental injustice. Given that much of the authority for addressing these issues rests at the individual state level, EHMI organized an additional workshop – the next in a series – from 12-3pm ET on May 24 and 26, 2022. This workshop delved deeper into specific state-level actions and actors that could help improve climate-related health outcomes in disproportionately impacted communities, particularly through the deeper integration of health equity into climate programs and consideration of climate justice in public health programs. Objectives included:
Identify strengths of and lessons learned from current state-level approaches – both legislative and executive – and challenges to improving those approaches, particularly with respect to partnering with communities. What have states done in collaboration with communities that is sustainable and goes beyond “bright spots?”
Identify challenges and opportunities in developing state-level approaches, particularly with respect to implementation of recent federal bills. What are states trying to do, do these actions address community needs, and what specific obstacles do they face?
Identify opportunities for decision-makers, leaders, and stakeholders at the state level to build trust and partner with communities and vice versa. How can disproportionately impacted communities have a greater voice via shared decision-making and implementation, including by ensuring that state governments act on climate change and health equity?
Identify accurate and equitable methods for evaluating and expanding essential, successful, and transformational policies. What works, who defines what works, and are these policies defined and measured in a way that is meaningful for communities?
Foster connections and sharing of traditional/cultural, Indigenous, scientific, and community knowledge to help identify multi-sector approaches. How can we more decisively act now and share and systematize this work to address community needs?
Participants included representatives from: state agencies, legislatures, and governors’ offices; state consortiums; federal agencies and universities with programs that intersect state implementation; and community based organizations, state and national advocacy organizations, foundations, and private sector organizations that focus on action at the state level.
Format: Virtual workshop, held via Zoom meeting on May 24, 2022 (12-3pm ET) and May 26, 2022 (12-3pm ET). The workshop was highly interactive and included breakouts for attendees to share lessons learned and discuss best practices.