During a visit to Alaska in early August, Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D., the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), witnessed the pressing climate and health challenges faced by residents. Alaska is warming at twice the rate of the Lower 48 states, leading to the loss of 2.5 million acres of sea ice, permafrost melting, and increased transport of pollutants to Arctic Alaska. Admiral Levine emphasized the urgent need for environmental justice and climate action, stating that “a healthier future includes us all.”
During her visit, she met with National Institutes of Health (NIH) grantees researching climate change’s impact on health. Grantees in Alaska, including the nonprofit Alaska Community Action on Toxics, are working with indigenous Yupik communities to assess and prevent children’s exposure to harmful chemicals. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is also involved in the NIH Alliance for Community Engagement on Climate and Health (ACE-CH) initiative, focusing on communities most affected by climate change’s health effects.
This collaborative approach aims to address climate change’s intersection with health, and this topic will be further explored at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 28) session in Dubai from November 30 to December 12. The article underscores the significance of addressing climate change and its consequences for public health.
