Addressing Climate Change Is Crucial to Nursing’s Future & the Well-Being of the Nation & the Global Community
The conditions in which people live and work have a profound impact on health status and the prevalence of health inequities throughout the United States. As these social determinants of health have gained prominence among health care and public health experts, saving the planet from the devastating effects predicted by climate science has become increasingly urgent.
Climate change presents an existential threat that requires sustained, strategic, and systemic action to mitigate the long-term devastation it will inflict on communities, families, and individuals. Nurse educators and organizations can help address the ongoing challenges and effects of climate change on health, advocate for a sustainable environment, and advance health equity and nursing education.
Join the NLN in getting the word out that the health of our people is vital to the health of our planet.
Social determinants of health is a major focus of national and international organizations. The NLN and Walden University College of Nursing Institute for Social Determinants of Health and Social Change is established to address these issues, including the impact of climate change on communities.
Resources & Information
- New! NLN Vision Statement: Climate Change and Health: The NLN issues a bold call to nurse educators and other key stakeholders to take action against the adverse effects of climate change on personal, family, community, and world health. Read Now
- Nursing Collaborative on Climate Change and Health: The NLN has joined forces with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments for nurses and nurse educators to lead the way on climate issues. Learn More
- Climate for Health: The NLN is part of this national network of health leaders offering tools, resources, and communications to demonstrate visible climate leadership and act and advocate for climate solutions. Learn More
- National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector: This public-private partnership consists of leaders like the NLN from across the health system committed to addressing the sector’s environmental impact while strengthening its sustainability and resilience. Learn More
- Health Care Leaders Speak Out on Climate Change: Hear directly from health care leaders, including NLN President and CEO Dr. Beverly Malone, about the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis to protect health and equity, and how their organizations are taking action. Watch Now
- Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Read a report from the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica chronicling the impact of climate change on Americans' mental health and psychological well-being along with guidance and resources to act and advocate. Read Now
- New! ecoAmerica Climate Ambassador Training: Join this online, on-demand course and earn three nursing continuing education (CE) credits. Access the training using the code ANHECfHAmbassador22. Access Now
- American Climate Leadership Awards Replication Guides: Check out the top 10 finalists from 2021 offering successful and step-wise models that can be replicated in local communities. Learn More
Taking Action
- Nurses Climate Challenge: Learn about the impact of climate change on human health and help ensure that nursing students at all levels participate in this movement. Get Started
- Climate for Health Ambassador Training: Join the active cohort of 100s of your peers actively supporting equitable climate solutions. Join Now
- Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship: The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments offers a first-of-its-kind fellowship program to train nurses to work with communities in tackling serious environmental health issues, with an emphasis on climate and health equity. Learn More
News Articles
- Offering a Vision on Climate Change and Nursing: The NLN’s 15-page vision statement on climate change and health released in September 2022 “believes that the health consequences of climate change are among the most urgent public health and health equity crises of the 21st century." Read More
- The National League for Nursing/Walden University College of Nursing Institute for Social Determinants of Health and Social Change: The World Health Organization defines social determinants of health (SDH) as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. Read More
- Biden Opens New Federal Office for Climate Change, Health and Equity: Beverly Malone, president and chief executive office of the National League for Nursing, said, “Health equity has a lot to do with where you live, and we have understood the linkage.” Read More
- Understanding Social Reasons for Poor Health Helps to Fix Inequality: How do you fix health inequity in the United States? The education and health care communities as well as policymakers must consider what are known as the social determinants of health as an integral part of solving this dilemma. Read More
2022 NLN Education Summit
Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Leading the Way Through Education, Practice, and Policy
Nurse educators from around the world shared transformative ideas on mitigating climate change, promoting a sustainable environment, and advancing health equity.
