Climate Change: A Public Health Issue and the Current Policies Addressing it
The purpose of this assignment is to discuss the impact of an environmental public health issue and make recommendations for policy change.
Research public health issues located on the American Public Health Association (APHA) website. Select a public health issue related to an environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population.
Based on the public health issue selected, in 750-1,000 words address the following:
1. Describe the public health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issue supported by resources.
2. Discuss how the public health issue is addressed by the current policies.
Include what changes you would propose to the existing policies. Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change.
3. Identify the necessary stakeholders required to initiate policy change (government officials, administrator) and explain the importance of their role, such as budgeting or funding.
4. Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system.
Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.
Policy Brief
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Policy Brief
The Public Health Issue
Georges Benjamin, the American Public Health Association (APHA) Executive Director, revealed in The Washington Post that climate change is a serious public health issue and that the organization is increasingly dedicated to ensuring that the nation recognizes the climate change effects on health. Relevant authorities need to consider urgent interventions to resolve climate change, which ranges from vulnerability to intense heat waves, wildfires, floods, droughts, and storms to aggravating air pollution and the rise of insect-borne disease. The public health issue primarily targets kids, persons with chronic illnesses, low-income households, and the aging population. This happens nearly across all corners of the American continent because several regions experience the effects. These regions are California, Alaska, Midwest, Southern Great Plains, the Southwest, etc. Climate change is a disaster in the United States (U.S.) Therefore, the problem occurs and raises concern at the national level, creating the urge for nationwide-level efforts to mitigate the health-related challenge among the affected populations. The health issue’s influence through storms, air pollution, and sickness-carrying organisms make U.S. citizens worried about their safety and health. Studies by APHA and Eco-America acknowledged that air pollution makes about 59% of Americans troubled about their health. The research indicated that about 137 million individuals live in unhealthy places with increased air pollution levels (American Public Health Association, 2022). Overall, climate change is a severe environmental-based public health issue affecting America.
How Current Policies Address the Public Health Issue
Countries, businesses, societies, and persons religiously use or follow the current policies. It is crucial because it helps generate a more sustainable and secure world for future generations (Cerna, 2013). Many updated policies have been adopted to address climate change as a significant public health challenge. The U.S. implemented the National Climate Task Force to help coordinate policies to address the health issue and save the country, especially the vulnerable populations that need critical help. Through this policy, President Biden has remained determined to tackle the climate crisis with the earnestness that science requires. This has included efforts to create a clean energy economy that profits all U.S. citizens, including lowering family costs, providing decent job opportunities for citizens, and healthier air and water for people. Attaining 100% clean electricity by 2035 and realizing zero emissions by 2050 are vital goals for America’s policy-driven actions (The White House, 2023).
Though the existing policies have played a critical role, various changes can be added to them to increase their effectiveness. The first important change is considering international cooperation while forming and executing community policies. Climate change is a worldwide issue that needs increasingly collaborative global responses for efficient mitigation. The second change would be encouraging the utilization of innovation to propose poli...