Leading Change Feet First
Regenerative leadership, the kind of leadership I am an advocate for within our depleted health delivery systems, begins with putting our feet on the ground and connecting to the pulse and call of Mother Earth, Gaia, the living system we are all dependent upon for optimal health and thriving. Sometimes she invites us to slow down and be nurtured. Other times she calls us to be catalysts for change by putting one foot in front of the other.
Climate and Health Leadership refers to proactive efforts of health professionals, organizations, and communities to address the health impacts of climate change and to mitigate further environmental damage that threatens human health. Our goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resiliency into our health delivery systems, and advocate for policies that protect public health from climate-related risks.
Key aspects of Climate and Health Leadership include:
Climate change poses significant threats to human health, including increased risk of heatstroke, respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, and food and water insecurity. It also threatens the safety and viability of the environments within which we live as well as our sense of meaning and purpose in a time of existential crisis. Effective leadership is crucial to protect vulnerable populations, build resilient communities, and create a healthier future for all.
Following are three organizations I have chosen to partner with in my own advocacy and activism work. I can vouch that they are each comprised of amazing people doing extraordinary work to ensure our health systems are able to meet the needs of now.
If you are a health professional and eager to move the levers of change within your industry, I am happy to talk with you about participating with any of these or another of your choosing. When we align our efforts we gain power and momentum...and it's a whole lot more fun!
Climate and Health Leadership refers to proactive efforts of health professionals, organizations, and communities to address the health impacts of climate change and to mitigate further environmental damage that threatens human health. Our goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resiliency into our health delivery systems, and advocate for policies that protect public health from climate-related risks.
Key aspects of Climate and Health Leadership include:
- Mitigation
- Resilience
- Advocacy
- Education and Awareness
- Equity
Climate change poses significant threats to human health, including increased risk of heatstroke, respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, and food and water insecurity. It also threatens the safety and viability of the environments within which we live as well as our sense of meaning and purpose in a time of existential crisis. Effective leadership is crucial to protect vulnerable populations, build resilient communities, and create a healthier future for all.
Following are three organizations I have chosen to partner with in my own advocacy and activism work. I can vouch that they are each comprised of amazing people doing extraordinary work to ensure our health systems are able to meet the needs of now.
If you are a health professional and eager to move the levers of change within your industry, I am happy to talk with you about participating with any of these or another of your choosing. When we align our efforts we gain power and momentum...and it's a whole lot more fun!
Healthy Climate Wisconsin
Health professionals across the state of Wisconsin united to advocate for climate action because of climate change's far-reaching and detrimental health impacts. Our guiding values are compassionate care, preventing illness, and promoting physical, mental, and social well-being. We are committed to communicating that the global climate crisis is a public health emergency, and advocating for equitable solutions to decrease the impact of climate change on human health. We share resources, educate, network, empower our members to advocate for their communities' health, and catalyze the transition to climate-smart healthcare in Wisconsin. www.healthyclimatewi.org
Occupational Therapists for Environmental Action
Transforming occupational therapy in the United States to improve individual, community, and planetary health. Our mission is to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on human health, wellness, and participation in meaningful occupations. We endeavor to collaborate with like minded practitioners to address the ways in which human occupation can either contribute to or mitigate the woes effects of the climate crisis. We understand that the worst effects of climate change fall on already marginalized populations and believe that we, as healthcare providers, have an obligation to address climate change to protect the health of all our clients. www.otenvironmentalaction.com
Climate Coaching Alliance
CCA is focused on transforming the practice, impact, and profession of coaching. We participate in a positive shift in human awareness to effect wider systemic changes in the world towards a truly regenerative future - "To give life to the forest of life." We influence the global professional coaching community to bring the deep and difficult questions of climate and ecological emergency into coaching conversations. www.climatecoachingalliance.org
