Climate change is affecting people in real ways every day. High heat, more extreme weather and rising sea levels will increasingly – and potentially catastrophically – impact our health and well-being. While we are all affected, low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately at risk due to existing social, economic, and health vulnerabilities that threaten to become worse with time. But progress is possible if we make smart choices now.

Building on years of collaboration at the intersection of climate change, health and equity, Kresge’s Environment and Health programs have partnered to accelerate action on climate change and equitably reduce health disparities. These investments grow from and reinforce our belief that climate change is a threat multiplier that affects everything in our lives. As the newest – and arguably most important – social determinant of health, climate change is the greatest public health threat of this century.

The most effective solutions are designed and implemented by those who know their communities best. By working together with hospitals, health care systems, public health departments, health practitioners, climate advocates and others, we aim to build climate resilience and advance policies and practices to proactively tackle this public health threat and improve people’s lives.

The Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative includes three strategies that are designed to reinforce each other. Through peer learning activities, technical assistance, evaluation and communications support, the initiative is designed to build networks and facilitate peer-exchange across the three strategies.

Building the capacity of health institutions: This strategy builds the capacity of hospitals, health care systems and public health institutions to act as leaders in promoting climate mitigation and adaptation and advocating for equitable climate policies.

Transforming public health and health practice: We engage professional health care and public health membership organizations to advance climate resilience policies and practices within their organizations, communities, and throughout their networks. Grantmaking through this strategy seeks to ensure that health care and public health practitioners incorporate climate-related health issues into their work and strengthens their ability to influence public policy and advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels.

Strengthening community-based leadership: This strategy strengthens the leadership among community-based organizations to accelerate implementation of equitable policies and practices that advance climate resilience and reduce health risks. Projects funded through this strategy advance the adoption and implementation of climate mitigation and climate adaptation policies and programs at the local, regional, and state levels that improve public health outcomes and drive investments to improve quality of life in low-income communities.