Convening a multi-disciplinary group

On October 20, 2008, PHLP gathered a diverse group of more than 150 participants to elicit a multi-disciplinary exchange of ideas and strategies to better engage public health networks and agencies in climate change work.

The participants at the convening included

• leaders from major environmental groups,
• public health departments,
• faith-based organizations,
• smart growth coalitions,
• social justice campaigns, and
• distinguished universities.

The event combined presentations by eminent speakers with breakout sessions to elicit an exchange of ideas. The full agenda is available below. Attendees provided meaningful input and identified practical strategies to be included in an effective and comprehensive public health approach to climate change.

Developing the action plan

As follow-up to this groundbreaking event, PHLP synthesized the results of the convening to develop An Action Plan for Public Health – Initial Recommendations for Involving Public Health in Climate Change Policy, which identifies public health priorities and opportunities for engagement.

Materials from the Convening

Additional materials available below include the following:

• Climate Change: The Public Health Response (Presentation by George Luber, PhD, Acting Associate Director for Global Climate Change, National Center for Environmental Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Climate Change Mitigation and Public Health (Presentation by Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH, Deputy Director, Center for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, California Dept. of Public Health)
• California Climate Adaptation Strategy (Presentation by Anthony Brunello, MS, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change and Energy, California Resources Agency
• Recommended background reading

Thank you to our sponsors

PHLP organized this event with support from and in partnership with

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
• California Department of Public Health,
• Kaiser Permanente,
• The California Endowment,
• ClimatePlan,
• California Conference of Local Health Officers,
• American Lung Association of California,
• The Public Health Institute,
• Local Government Commission,
• California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and
• The California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health.