Climate-Smart Health Care: Role of the Family Physician

Climate change continues to accelerate, driving more frequent and severe weather events, particularly extreme heat. These environmental changes have broad adverse health effects, including increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, mental health effects, and burden of vector-borne diseases. Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion, which is a major contributor to climate change, remains one of the leading global risk factors for death. Health burdens surrounding climate change fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations, including children, outdoor workers, people experiencing housing insecurity, and low-income communities. Physicians increasingly encounter and manage adverse effects from climate change in clinical care. During preventive care visits, physicians can counsel patients on environmental health risks, plant-forward diets, active transportation, and protection from heat and air pollution. In acute and disaster-related encounters, clinicians can assist patients in creating individualized action plans for disaster and heat preparedness and manage medical conditions exacerbated by climate change. Other strategies such as incorporating telehealth, practicing high-value care, and using sustainable prescribing can improve access, efficiency, and clinical outcomes while reducing pollution and emissions from health care systems. Physicians can advocate for policies that promote public health and support a more resilient and sustainable health care system.