Climate Change & Health Equity Section (CCHES)
The CDPH Climate Change and Health Equity Section (CCHES) envisions a state where all Californians thrive in healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. Our team works to achieve this by building health equity, advancing climate action, and improving living conditions through policies, systems, and environmental changes.
Why We're Doing this Work
Climate change is one of the greatest public health threats of our time.
Those facing inequities are hurt first and worst by the impacts of climate change.
Climate change policies can improve the environments where people live, learn, work, play, and age, and represent a significant opportunity to improve population health and health inequities.
What We Do
Work across agencies and departments to embed health and equity into California climate change programs and policies.
Guide state investment and resource distribution to prioritize health equity and climate resilience.
Provide data, research, and tools to identify and reduce the health effects of climate change and maximize the health equity benefits of climate action.
Increase capacity of public health jurisdictions, Tribal health programs, and partner agencies to work on climate change and health equity.
Engage with internal and external partners to shift towards policies, processes, and guidelines that increase communitiesā power in decision-making.
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Our Major Focus AreasStatewide Cross-Sector Climate Change Policy, Planning, and Programs that promote health equity and build climate resilience for communities
Land Use Planning with emphasis on building within unused and underutilized lands within existing development patterns (compact / infill development) and creating transit-oriented neighborhoods with easy access to daily needs to reduce the need to drive and facilitate healthy and active living
Transportation / Clean Mobility Options that prioritize accessible walking, cycling, and public transit
Housing and Anti-Displacement -- affordable, healthy, energy-efficient, and climate resilient homes
Clean Energy, including reducing barriers for low-income populations and disadvantaged communities to access clean energy, and ensuring energy security and resiliency
Natural and Working Lands, including sustainable and local food systems that enable healthy eating and food sovereignty
Urban Greening and Green Infrastructure that provide nature-based climate and health solutions
Labor and Workforce Development -- support workforce development and hiring practices that advance racial and health equity in the clean energy economy
Community engagement -- meaningful community engagement that empowers communities facing inequities to drive climate and health policy and governmental decision-making
- Utilization of Health Equity Data and Tools to inform decisions, and to identify and prioritize State resources and investments to communities facing inequities and climate vulnerabilities
Our Recent Accomplishments
āāProvided health and equity guidance to over $3 billion in State grants (e.g., SGC Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities Program, SGC Transformative Climate Communities Program, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants) to communities across CA.
Supported State agencies in implementing climate legislation and executive orders around clean energy (SB 350), land use / transportation (SB 375, SB 150), climate adaptation (EO B-30-15, AB 2722) healthy housing and weatherization (AB 1232), climate adaptation (AB 1482), and more.
Integrated health and equity into State climate change plans and policies impacting social determinants of health. Examples: California Climate Change Scoping Plan (State GHG Emissions Reduction Strategy), State Hazard Mitigation Plan, State Climate Adaptation Strategy, and more.
Implemented the California Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (CalBRACE) Project which assists local health jurisdictions and Tribes to prepare for health impacts of climate change.
Created tools for policymakers to prioritize resources to vulnerable communities for improving their living conditions and resilience to climate impacts.
Quantified the potential health benefits of transportation investments. This led to a state climate change policy goal to quadruple walking in California, and increase cycling nine-fold.
Hosted public meetings of the Public Health Workgroup of the California Climate Action Team since 2009 to collaborate, inform, and plan action on the health equity impacts of climate change and climate strategies.
CDPH Climate Change & Health Equity Section
Email: climatechange@cdph.ca.gov
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Building P, 3rd Floor
Richmond, CA 94804-6403