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Published on: March 31, 2023
Climate Action and Decarbonization Advocacy
Teddie Potter1, Katie Huffling, Barbara Polivka
1Teddie Potter is director of the Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis. Katie Huffling is the executive director of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Mount Rainier, MD. Barbara Polivka is a professor and associate dean of research at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City. Elizabeth Schenk is the chief environmental stewardship officer at Providence Health System in Renton, WA, and an associate research professor at the Washington State University College of Nursing in Spokane. Contact author: Teddie Potter, tmpotter@umn.edu . The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Climate change poses a significant threat to patient health and healthcare sustainability. This article explores how nurses can leverage advocacy to drive climate action and protect public health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health Policy
- Healthcare Sustainability
Background:
- Growing recognition among global health professionals and organizations about climate change impacts.
- Climate change poses significant threats to patient well-being and healthcare system resilience.
- Urgent need for healthcare sector engagement in climate action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss advocacy as a key approach for health professionals to address climate change.
- To highlight the specific roles and opportunities for nurses in climate advocacy.
- To explore how nurses can utilize their voices to promote climate-resilient healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on climate change and healthcare.
- Analysis of advocacy strategies for health professionals.
- Focus on nursing roles in environmental health and climate policy.
Main Results:
- Advocacy is a critical tool for healthcare professionals to influence climate policy.
- Nurses are uniquely positioned to advocate for climate action due to their trusted status and patient proximity.
- Effective advocacy can lead to decarbonization of the healthcare system and improved public health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Nurses can and should engage in climate advocacy.
- Empowering nurses with advocacy tools is crucial for a sustainable healthcare future.
- Collective action by healthcare professionals is essential to mitigate climate change impacts on health.
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