Official Launch Day - 4/24/23
Harford, CT—Today Connecticut health professionals met at the Hispanic Health Council to launch a new group, Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action (CHPCA). The purpose of the group is to educate health providers, policymakers, and the public about the health impacts of climate change and to advocate for strong and urgent actions to provide immediate health improvements and reduce health disparities, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Sanjiv Godse, Chair of the group stated “Tonight, we are proud to formally launch our group of physicians, nurses and other health professionals to actively address the public health emergency caused by climate change. As a pediatrician, I treat many children with asthma and there is no doubt that poor air quality related to climate change is a major cause. We are looking forward to educating other health care professionals and policy makers in Connecticut to take bold action to protect public health.”
Dr. Mark Mitchell, former Hartford health director, Associate Professor, Climate Change, Energy, and Environmental Health Equity at George Mason University and co-founder of CHPCA stated “It is critical to have physicians and all health professionals aware of the full spectrum of diseases related to climate change and to engage in supporting policies that not only mitigate these impacts but also promote equity, resiliency and adaptation. For example, we need to drastically cut emissions but we also need to assure that residents have access to things like resilience centers, to educate and support those left behind in climate emergencies, address air pollution, urban flooding, urban heat island effects and the mental health impacts of our changing climate.”
Anne Hulick, Steering Member, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and CT director, Clean Water Action “As a nurse who worked for over two decades in cardiology and critical care, I took care of so many patients with serious cardiac and respiratory diseases. While we did a good job taking care of people when they were sick, it was always frustrating that we didn’t connect what we’re doing to the environment with public health impacts. I’m pleased to support CHPCA to lead efforts in Connecticut to address this and get more health professionals involved. “
Dr. Kirsten Ek, UCONN faculty and physician stated “I’m very concerned about the health impacts of climate change and work to teach students and residents (training physicians) about the importance of connecting climate change with health. We need to do more as physicians to advocate for bold policy action and I’m thrilled to be a part of this group.”
