Emerging and increasing hazards introduced by climate change require adaptations to public health, emergency management, and occupational health practice. CEER investigators are working to characterize the ways in which organizations are integrating climate change into their practice, evaluate climate change adaptation strategies, and identify existing resource and technical assistance needs. CEER faculty are affiliated with the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE) and work closely with other CHanGE faculty on much of this work.
Occupational Health Needs Assessment:
With the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, CEER conducted a regional climate-related occupational health and safety needs assessment in federal Region X. We conducted interviews with 17 occupational safety and health professionals to identify concerns about climate-related occupational health and safety risks, as well as training needs for the existing and emerging occupational health and safety workforce to mitigate them.
State-level Climate and Health Capacity Assessment:
With CHanGE and the Association for State and Territorial Health Officials, CEER investigators are working to assess the capacity of health departments to respond to the impacts of climate change. We have conducted a survey of state health departments and plan to conduct focus groups to provide additional context about challenges and opportunities related to the development of climate and health capacity.
Heat Strategy Implementation Assessment:
With colleagues from the CHanGE and Boston University, CEER investigators are assessing the types and implementation of a variety of extreme adaptation strategies in major US cities.
iBRACE Evaluation:
With the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC) and CHanGE, CEER investigators are working to evaluate the SITC’s adaptation of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework. SITC adapted the framework to reflect the indigenous health indicators, developed to more holistically reflect Coast Salish social and cultural beliefs and values around health.