The WSMA's House of Delegates, since 2016, has adopted policies that urge
the association to work on solutions that both reduce pollution and
address the issue of climate change to promote healthier, sustainable
communities.
Climate Change: A Critical Public Health Issue
In 2016, the WSMA House of Delegates passed policy acknowledging climate change as a critical public health issue :
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Potential effects of climate change on human health include higher
rates of respiratory and heat-related illness, increased prevalence of
vector-borne and waterborne diseases, food and water insecurity, and
malnutrition. Persons who are elderly, sick, or poor are especially
vulnerable to these potential consequences.
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The WSMA supports educating the medical community on the potential
adverse public health effects of global climate change and
incorporating the health implications of climate change into the
spectrum of medical education, including topics such as population
displacement, heat waves and drought, flooding, infectious and
vector-borne diseases, and potable water supplies.
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We recognize the importance of physician involvement in policymaking
at the state, national, and global levels, and support efforts to
search for novel, comprehensive, and economically sensitive approaches
to mitigating climate change to protect the health of the public; and
recognize that whatever the etiology of global climate change,
policymakers should work to reduce human contributions to such
changes.
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We encourage physicians to adopt programs for environmental
sustainability in their practices, share these concepts with their
patients and their communities, and to serve as role models for
promoting environmental sustainability.
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We encourage physicians to work with local and state health
departments to strengthen the public health infrastructure to ensure
that the global health effects of climate change can be anticipated
and responded to more efficiently.
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We support epidemiological, translational, clinical, and basic science
research necessary for evidence-based global climate change policy
decisions related to health care and treatment.
Washington’s Climate Commitment Act: The Potential Health Impacts of Repeal
A white paper from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Initiative 2117: A Risk to Our Health – An Analysis of the Threats to
Health Posed by I-2117, evaluates the significant health impacts of Initiative 2117, a statewide initiative put before Washington voters in 2024 that would repeal of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.
At its meeting in May of 2024, the WSMA board of trustees voted to support the "No on 2117" campaign,
pursuant to
WSMA policy adopted in 2018
that specifically supports investments in clean energy via a fee on
large suppliers of CO2-emitting products. The policy was adopted by the
WSMA House of Delegates in response to a then-pending ballot initiative
establishing a cap-and-invest system, a precursor to
Senate Bill 5126
from 2021, which created the Climate Commitment Act.
Initiative 2117 is also in direct opposition to WSMA policy that
acknowledges climate change as a critical public health issue.
National Academy of Medicine Sustainability Journey Map
Per policy as adopted by the 2024 House of Delegates, the WSMA encourages members, health care organizations in Washington, and affiliated stakeholders to take steps to align with the objectives, outcomes, milestones, and actions identified in the various stages of the National Academy of Medicine Sustainability Journey Map and Resource Repository.
- The map outlines key stages of the sustainability journey and provides links to best practices and resources.
- It is intended for any health care supplier, regardless of size, industry, or stage in the decarbonization process.
- Each stage of the map includes actions that need to be taken, along with challenges that may arise.
- The resources provided in the map address those challenges and highlight actions to help organizations achieve their sustainability goals.
- The map is circular, meaning organizations can revisit different stages to address regulatory, scientific, business, or other factors that develop while on their sustainability journey.
The valuable resources offered through the map can help you advance your sustainability efforts and contribute to a low carbon and more resilient health care sector. To access the interactive features, click on the map image, below.
WSMA Reports Features on Climate Change
The following features from our WSMA Reports archives look at the efforts of Washington's physician community to tackle the many challenges presented by climate change.
"Health at Risk" by Rita Colorito (from the July/August 2019 WSMA Reports). Climate change means another new normal for Washington—increased temperatures and extreme heat events. Physicians are in a unique position to advance the dialogue on climate change, but public health systems face a steep hurdle when it comes to addressing climate change.
"Taking a Stand" by Pat Curry
(from the July/August 2019 WSMA Reports). WSMA Reports talked to the sustainability managers at three Washington health care organizations about the steps they have taken to reduce their effect on climate change and asked them to suggest small steps individual physicians can take.