The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working to bolster support and resources for health sector resilience and emissions reduction through its Office of Climate Change and Health Equity.
The office is releasing new tools to speed up health sector action to safeguard Americans from the escalating health threat posed by climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and boosting climate resiliency, according to an April 21 news release.
“Fostering a resilient and sustainable health sector is critical to HHS’ mission of enhancing the health and well-being of Americans. By connecting the health sector to the transformative power of the Inflation Reduction Act, HHS is helping catalyze lasting change," HSS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release.
Climate change is the greatest hazard to human health in the 21st century, according to 200 medical journals, the release reported. According to the World Health Organization, the combined effects of hunger, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress are predicted to result in an additional 250,000 fatalities year between 2030 and 2050.
“The health sector represents about 20% of the U.S. economy and more than 8% of the country’s carbon emissions, so strengthening the resilience of healthcare providers and suppliers and decarbonizing the sector is critical for protecting our well-being and fighting climate change as a nation," HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine said in the release. "Ultimately, climate change solutions are health equity solutions because they protect the most vulnerable among us.”
By providing billions of dollars in grants, loan programs and tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, can assist improve the healthcare sector by financing resilient and sustainable infrastructure, according to the release.
The Quickfinder for Leveraging the IRA for the Health Sector, published by OCCHE, identifies and describes the ways in which the health sector may make use of IRA initiatives and incentives to accelerate climate action, the release said. Through investments in renewable energy, including the construction of effective and resilient infrastructure that can better handle operational hazards associated to the climate, many of these investments have the potential to enhance care, boost preparation and lower costs.
