Climate Change and Health
Climate change is possibly the greatest global challenge of the 21st century, and it is directly harming human, animal, and ecosystem health.
ASPPH and our members are committed to protecting populations’ health by reducing the causes of climate change and adapting to its impacts.
ASPPH recognizes climate change and health as a critical challenge facing society. In response, our Task Force on Climate Change and Health produced an important framework for academic public health on responding to the climate change and health crisis, along with concentration competencies in climate change and health.
ASPPH is now partnering with the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH) and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) on a Climate and Health Community of Practice (CoP) for public health faculty, focused on integrating climate change into public health education. This CoP is a follow up to the Climate-Ready Classrooms faculty development course held by GNAPH and GCCHE in 2025. Ultimately, the ASPPH CoP will contribute to ensuring public health graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to the health outcomes of climate change.
The ASPPH CoP is one of seven regional communities of practice, each hosted by one of the regional association members of GNAPH. Learn more about the Regional Climate and Health Communities of Practice.
Take Action
In 2022, the Task Force on Climate Change and Health released a framework laying out principles and recommendations for ASPPH and schools and programs of public health to act through education and training, research, practice, and policy and advocacy while approaching the issues through the lens of social justice, taking advantage of interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships at all levels of society.
Take action by reviewing the framework and recommendations when planning climate change and health activities. We also offer two educational resources: climate and health concentration competencies for the MPH and a toolkit with guidance on incorporating climate change and health into public health curricula.
Responding to the Climate Change and Health Crisis: A Framework for Academic Public Health
Concentration Competencies for the MPH
Climate Change and Health: A Public Health Education Toolkit
Resources
Why Climate Change and Health
Why climate change and health? There are countless reasons why, and ways, we must come together to address this urgent issue. Hear from ASPPH’s Climate Change and Health Task Force co-chairs, Deans Lynn Goldman (GW) and Jonathan Samet (Colorado), about the problems and potential solutions, as well as some words of perspective and hope from our President and CEO, Dr. Laura Magaña.
Responding to the Climate Change and Health Crisis
This webinar features a panel discussion about the framework with climate change experts and the topics and challenges identified.
Academic Public Health Leadership
Latest Climate Change and Health News
Engage With Us
Follow us on social media to learn more about the health impacts of climate change
Contact Us
Dorothy directs priority initiatives for the Office of the President and CEO, including ASPPH’s global engagements and climate change and health initiatives.
Senior Director of Global Engagement and Executive Initiatives
Rebecca manages ASPPH’s global engagements and climate change and health initiatives.
Manager of Global Engagements