Climate Change and Women’s Health: Providing Education on Adaptation and Mitigation

Climate change is contributing to an increase in extreme weather events, higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and more frequent natural disasters, all of which negatively affect human health in a multitude of ways. Women, pregnant people, as well as other marginalized populations are disproportionately impacted by these climate change-related events, contributing to a further increase in disparate health outcomes in the United States. This article provides clinicians with information about the health risks imposed by climate change, how to screen for risks, as well as resources for clinicians to refer to when providing education on adaptation and mitigation strategies to minimize negative effects on health. The authors describe needed research on how to effectively educate patients on climate-related health risks, as well as policy changes that have the potential to protect patients by promoting clean air and preventing further climate change.