Webinar Series: Accelerating Healthcare Sector Action on Climate Change and Health Equity

Speakers: Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture

This session will kick off the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity’s (OCCHE’s) 2023 programming. It will explore the OCCHE Quickfinder for Leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act for the Health Sector, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidance for the Health Sector on ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, and Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program. You can watch the recording here.

Speakers: Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Update: Speakers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration originally scheduled for this session will now be appearing in a session on June 29. Registration link to follow.

This session will explore some of the opportunities for health sector resilience made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act's Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authority to provide financial assistance for costs associated with low-carbon building or construction materials and incentives that encourage low-carbon and net-zero energy projects. We will also be introducing a new resilience resource for use in clinical and social services settings from the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. You can watch the recording here.

Speakers: Environmental Protection Agency

This session will explore some of the opportunities for health sector emissions reduction made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act within the Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically, this session will explore programs including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program. You can watch the recording here.

Speakers: Administration for Children and Families, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Association of Community Health Centers, Nasson Health Care, Kedren Health

Addressing social drivers of health (SDOH) in clinical settings includes opportunities to protect vulnerable patients from health harms related to climate change. In this session, we will review examples of federal programs that can be incorporated in SDOH screening and referral that provide protection from climate-sensitive hazards, as well as resources for patient and provider climate & health education. In addition to healthcare settings, this synthesis of programs and resources can be used by human services providers to inform their understanding about protecting clients from climate-related health risks. We will discuss front-line accounts of how SDOH screening and care coordination in community health centers relate to protection of patients most at risk from health impacts of climate change, and explore how making these connections more consistently can improve health and health equity. You can watch the recording here.

Speakers: Department of Treasury

This session will explore some of the opportunities for health sector emissions reduction made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy generation incentives, Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. Importantly, tax-exempt organizations can still benefit from many of these opportunities through direct payment. You can watch the recording here

Speakers: Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This session will explore opportunities for environmental justice work and climate resilience from the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program and NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. While some details and Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for funding streams are still under development, this session will offer a high-level overview and considerations for health stakeholders conceptualizing projects and partnerships. You can watch the recording here.

Speakers: Department of Energy, OCCHE 

This session will introduce this webinar series. It will describe climate health action across HHS and the work of OCCHE to both advance work on resilience and emissions reduction in the healthcare sector and meet the needs of marginalized communities. It will also feature information on resources and financing from the Department of Energy that support emissions reduction. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Treasury

This session will introduce available financing supports for climate action such as loans, tax credits, mortgage insurance and premium reductions. Tips for potential applicants and relevant deadlines will be reviewed. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: Office of The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Federal Emergency Management Agency 

This session will explore financial and educational supports for health sector stakeholders to prepare and respond to catastrophic climate events. Rebuilding or building for hazard mitigation is another way facilities can prepare for the effects of climate change. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: Environmental Protection Agency

This session will review EPA tools including ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, combined heat and power incentives, and scope 3 inventory guidance. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: Agency for Healthcare Research Quality

A session exploring a new primer from AHRQ to support measurement, data collection and initial actions on decarbonization. The primer will be released in September. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Race to Zero

This session will feature international case studies and helpful techniques for decarbonization and resilience from other nations. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector Leadership

OCCHE co-chairs the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector, a public-private partnership of leaders from across the health system committed to addressing the sector’s environmental impact while strengthening its sustainability and resilience. This session will review publicly available tools and supports developed by Action Collaborative leadership and members, including major national associations. You can view the webinar here.

Speakers: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, OCCHE

Starting in the fall, Million Hearts CCC will be a national forum for health care organizations to learn about the cardiovascular health threats that climate change (e.g., extreme heat, extreme temperatures) and air pollution (e.g., particulate matter) present, review evidence-based interventions to address those threats (especially for high-risk populations), and access relevant solutions and tools. You can view the webinar here.

Register for upcoming Million Hearts Climate Change and Cardiovascular Disease Collaborative (CCC) interactive webinars here.

Speakers: Indian Health Service, Military Health System, Veteran’s Health Administration

The learning network will share the learning of federal health systems on emissions reduction and resilience. Case studies from across these systems, as well as relevant tools, will be discussed with private-sector stakeholders. You can view the webinar here.