Recognition and understanding of climate change as a global health issue has increased over the past two decades; in fact, the Oxford Dictionary named "climate emergency" the word of the year in 2019. The urgency to move on a trajectory that addresses the causes of climate change within the next decade is emphasized by reports recently released by international organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Health Organization (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2018; World Health Organization [WHO], 2018). Furthermore, institutions and governing bodies are recognizing the need to address climate change to achieve population health goals. As an example, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015 by member states of the United Nations, includes climate action as a Sustainable Development Goal (United Nations Economic & Social Council, 2019).
Climate change poses significant health risks. Nurses assess, treat, and educate patients about health risks. However, nurses' level of awareness, motivation, and behaviors related to climate change and health is not known. This study developed and tested a novel tool measuring these elements. Three hundred fifty-seven nurses responded to the overall survey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) assessed the factor structure of the 22-item CHANT survey and Cronbach's alpha estimated internal consistency. A five-factor model was retained through the EFA, demonstrating good model fit (comparative fit index [CFI] = .95, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .04, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = .09), and items were internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha for each subscale >.70). CHANT has been developed and psychometrically examined and is ready for further use and study.
Climate change poses significant threats to human health and worsens existing inequities. The health sector is a significant contributor to climate change, making up approximately 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Yet most nurses do not learn about the health dangers of climate change in their education or in practice, and therefore are ill-equipped to lead action on climate change. When educated about climate change, nurses can effectively lead climate adaptation and mitigation strategies aimed at creating healthier populations. As the most trusted professionals and making up 40% of the health-care workforce, nurses have the potential to impact behavior change and launch a movement around climate solutions. Health Care Without Harm and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments partnered on the “Nurses Climate Challenge” with the aim of nurses educating 5,000 health professionals on climate and health. In the Nurses Climate Challenge, nurses register as Nurse Climate Champions and gain access to online resources to plan and host educational sessions about climate change. After educating, Nurse Climate Champions return to the online platform to track their progress. Within 10 months, over 540 Nurse Climate Champions from 6 continents, 16 countries, and 42 U.S. states registered for access to the resources. To date, the champions have educated over 5,250 colleagues and students about climate and health. Based on early metrics, this model of education and engagement around climate action may be applicable for other disciplines in health care and beyond.
This article is one in a series in which contributing authors discuss how the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked to everyday clinical issues; national public health emergencies; and other nursing issues, such as leadership, shared governance, and advocacy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a 15-year plan of action to achieve the goals, was unanimously adopted by all UN member states in September 2015 and took effect on January 1, 2016. The Agenda consists of 17 SDGs addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and 169 associated targets focused on five themes: people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership. The SDGs build on the work of the UN Millennium Development Goals, which were in effect from 2000 to 2015. The current article highlights SDG 11—making “cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”
Black, Indigenous, and people of color are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards and are leading the charge toward environmental justice. Nurses have joined their call to action, supporting efforts to correct disparities, improve health, and enable just transitions toward resilient communities. Nurses are highly trusted and respected for honesty and high ethical standards. The profession has evolved from bedside patient care to include advocacy for environments that support health and wellbeing. The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) promotes healthy people and healthy environments through professional education, leadership, research, evidence-based practice, and advocacy. In 2019, ANHE launched the first-of-its-kind Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship program to train nurses to work in partnership with communities tackling environmental threats and related health impacts. Funded by the Kresge Foundation, the program focused on environmental justice and health equity, and functioned as a tool for education, empowerment, and action. Thirty nurse fellows were matched with regional expert nurse mentors. They partnered with communitybased organizations on projects involving community-identified environmental health needs and solutions. Fellows conducted educational sessions on environmental health and justice for other health professionals, thereby expanding awareness of opportunities to improve health and promote environmental justice.
Changes to Earth's climate are occurring globally at unprecedented rates with significant impacts to human and population health, including increased likelihood of mental health illnesses, food and water insecurity, insect-borne and heat-related illnesses, and respiratory diseases. Those in the health sector are seeing the challenges patients and community members are experiencing as a result of current and projected climate threats. Health professionals, including nurses, have an opportunity to lead the charge to significantly improve society's response to climate change and foster the strategies needed to promote health. This article highlights the current work of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, a national nursing organization focused solely on environmental health concerns, in inspiring and empowering nurses across the country to engage in action to reduce their climate impact, move climate solutions forward, and improve the ability of health care institutions and communities to respond to the health impacts of climate change.
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