Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

Policy and Advocacy

Main content start

Policy Change Discussions with Congress or CA Legislature

 

  • Contribution to the Day One Project Policy Proposal: "Reduce Disaster Costs by Better Tracking Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke" https://www.dayoneproject.org/post/reduce-disaster-costs-by-better-tracking-health-impacts-of-wildfire-smoke
  • California College on Science and Technology forum on high priorities for California's budget toward wildfire prevention, preparation, and mitigations: CA senators and assembly members by Dr. Mary Prunicki on 02/12/21 Full report available here:
  • California Natural Resources Testimony on the health impacts of prescribed burns by Dr. Mary Prunicki on November 9, 2020
  • Oral public comment to Environmental Protection Agency on Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter by Dr. Lisa Patel on 5/27/20 and  and Dr. Mary Prunick on 5/22/20
  • Oral public comment to Environmental Protection Agency on science in decision-making rule by Lisa Patel on 3/18/20
  • Meeting with State Senator Jerry Hill on sustainable healthcare by Lisa Patel on 2/26/20
  • Written public comment to Environmental Protection Agency Clean Car Act by Dr Mary Prunicki on 09/22/18

Actions Impacting Policy Change

In addition, we work on:

Sustainable Health Care

  • We convened the first NorCal Symposium on Climate and Pandemic Resilience led by medical students from Stanford and UCSF.  This event was planned in a participatory fashion by over 100 health care professionals and students, sustainability officers, and public health officials throughout Northern California. Topics focused on the intersection of climate change, the covid-19 pandemic, and racial justice to understand how we use this moment of crisis to build a better and more resilient future.

  • We are working to advance sustainability at Stanford Medicine by supporting work on re-usable gowns and growing the network of students and faculty invested in greening efforts across the School of Medicine, LPCH, and Stanford Healthcare

Climate Change Education for Health Professionals

  • We mentor the Stanford Climate and Health group in integrating climate change into medical curriculum for Stanford medical students

  • We are leading the development of Maintenance of Certification modules for the American Board of Pediatrics on climate change, health, and equity

Electrification

  • We support efforts for all-electric new construction. Indoor gas stoves and furnaces are a risk factor for the development of childhood asthma, and natural gas is a fossil fuel that contributes to the climate crisis. Converting to electric from gas has dual health and climate change benefits. 

Symposium, Meetings and Events 

From our collaborators

What's the State of your Air?

  • For 21 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile the "State of the Air" report. The more you learn about the air you breathe, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make the air cleaner and healthier. More information is available at https://www.stateoftheair.org/

State of Tobacco Control

  • The 19th annual American Lung Association "State of Tobacco Control" report evaluates states and the federal government on the proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies necessary to save lives. The report serves as a blueprint for what state and federal leaders need to do to eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use. This year's report focuses on the importance of ending tobacco use amid the pandemic, as smoking is a risk factor for the most severe COVID symptoms. This is especially important for those populations and communities most impacted overall by tobacco use and secondhand smoke, who are also facing a disproportionate burden from the pandemic. The report also discusses the actions the new Biden Administration and states need to take to prevent and reduce tobacco use. More information available at https://www.lung.org/research/sotc