sustainable health care
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Medical professionals adapt to health challenges posed by climate change
As climate change intensifies, doctors and other medical professionals are revamping treatments and training to address emerging health threats linked to environmental factors.
In short:
- Recent wildfires in Southern California have exposed residents to toxins from burning urban materials, raising concerns about long-term health effects.
- Medical institutions like the University of Southern California's CLIMA Center are integrating environmental data into patient care to better understand and treat climate-related health issues.
- Programs at universities such as the University of Colorado and Harvard are training "climate doctors" to lead in addressing health impacts of global warming.
Key quote:
"We need to train experts who can handle these situations, who can talk to the environment people, but also talk to the health people, but also talk to the public and policymakers on what to do in these situations."
— Dr. Rima Habre, Director of USC's CLIMA Center
Why this matters:
The health impacts of climate change — ranging from respiratory issues due to polluted air to the spread of vector-borne diseases — are becoming more prevalent. Medical professionals are also considering the environmental impact of treatments, and promoting "green prescribing" where lifestyle changes are recommended to benefit both patient health and the planet.
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Public trust in science faces political challenges
Recent studies reveal that while overall public confidence in scientific institutions has slightly rebounded since the pandemic, political divisions have deepened, with Democrats exhibiting higher trust levels than Republicans.
In short:
- Despite initial concerns, research indicates that attacks on science during Trump's first term did not significantly erode public trust; some segments even reported increased confidence.
- Surveys show a widening partisan divide: Democrats' trust in science remains high, whereas Republican confidence has notably decreased, especially post-pandemic.
- Experts warn that political and economic entities are exploiting scientific topics, such as climate change, to advance their agendas, potentially fostering further mistrust.
Key quote:
"Republican politicians have successfully mobilized the conspiracy and resistance to scientists — and not just scientists, but government agencies that represent science and medicine and nutrition.”
— Rod Abhari, Ph.D. candidate at Northwestern University
Why this matters:
Rebuilding public trust in science will require a multifaceted approach. Scientists and health officials could benefit from transparent communication, acknowledging uncertainties while clearly conveying consensus where it exists. Efforts to depoliticize science are important in ensuring that research and policy decisions are guided by empirical evidence rather than partisan agendas.
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Federal health data removals leave scientists scrambling
Researchers are racing to preserve critical federal health data as the Trump administration removes online access to key government databases, raising fears about future disruptions.
In short:
- The removal of federal health data under Trump’s executive orders is disrupting public research and leaving scientists anxious about future data access.
- Key databases, like FluView and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), were taken offline, sparking fears of data loss that could affect public health responses, including monitoring avian flu.
- Researchers are creating DIY solutions to preserve data, but they warn these efforts won’t replace the integrity of long-running, federally managed datasets.
Key quote:
“It’s that sort of disruption that is equally endangering our ability to do research and evaluation to understand what’s going on in our community.”
— Amy O’Hara, president of the Association of Public Data Users
Why this matters:
The consequences of the Trump administration's actions could hit hard. You can’t prepare for what you can’t track, and with avian flu and other threats on the horizon, losing access to this data could mean the difference between staying ahead — or getting blindsided.
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Credit: NIH Image Gallery/Flickr
Trump’s funding cuts threaten the backbone of U.S. research
Trump’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding cut targets “indirect costs,” the behind-the-scenes expenses that keep labs running, sparking a fierce backlash from universities and scientists who say it will cripple American innovation.
Carolyn Y. Johnson, Susan Svrluga, and Joel Achenbach report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- NIH’s proposal caps overhead funding at 15%, slashing support for lab maintenance, administrative staff and utilities.
- Universities warn that these cuts will weaken U.S. competitiveness in fields like biomedicine and artificial intelligence.
- Small research operations and public universities, which rely heavily on federal support, face the biggest risks.
Key quote:
“While the administration works to achieve this goal at NIH, a smart, targeted approach is needed to not hinder lifesaving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions like those in Alabama.”
— Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-Alabama)
Why this matters:
The NIH cuts could hobble U.S. research at a time when global competitors are ramping up investments, potentially stalling breakthroughs in cancer research, AI and public health. It’s a reminder that research relies on the boring stuff — keeping the lights on, maintaining safety protocols, hiring grant administrators. Without that, the risk isn’t just fewer scientific breakthroughs, but a long-term brain drain.
Read more: Putting people at the center of medicine, research, and policy.
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CDC faces backlash for removing key public health data from its website
The CDC is under fire after abruptly removing crucial health data from its website, with top advisers demanding answers on why the information disappeared and when it will return.
In short:
- The CDC removed data on gender, vaccines, climate change, HIV and long COVID, citing compliance with Trump administration executive orders, sparking outrage among public health experts.
- A CDC advisory board sent a letter demanding explanations from acting director Susan Monarez, warning of "dire consequences" if the data isn’t restored.
- Some pages, like the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, have been reinstated, but concerns persist about transparency and the politicization of public health information.
Key quote:
“It’s more than a data set, it’s years and years of collecting data, analyzing data and putting it into a format that communities can use, literally, to extend their lives.”
— Daniel Dawes, health policy expert
Why this matters:
This isn’t just about missing web pages; it’s about trust. Public health relies on transparency. Without access to reliable data, doctors can’t make informed decisions, scientists can’t track trends and advocates are left fighting in the dark.
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Credit: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash
Trump’s science freeze leaves researchers in limbo
The Trump administration’s abrupt freeze on federal science communication and grant processes threw researchers into chaos, delaying critical projects and threatening the future of public health research.
In short:
- The administration halted communications at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies, stalling grant reviews and disrupting scientific meetings.
- Clinical trials, including experimental cancer treatments, are now uncertain, while labs struggle to buy supplies or repair essential equipment.
- Scientists fear this signals a broader attack on government-funded research, with long-term consequences for disease treatment and public health innovation.
Key quote:
“The NIH freak-out may have less to do with the present disruption (however long it lasts) than with what it signifies.”
— Ian Bogost, professor at Washington University in St. Louis
Why this matters:
This kind of disruption can ripple through entire fields, delaying the rollout of critical treatments and leaving patients hanging. With Trump allies pushing to gut federal science, researchers warn that the damage could outlast the administration, making the U.S. a less reliable leader in global health and innovation.
Read more:
Want to keep toxic chemicals out of the environment? Start with campaign finance reform.
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Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Flickr
Local microgrids are reshaping energy resilience and sustainability
As climate-fueled disasters strain traditional grids, locally powered green microgrids are emerging as a cleaner, more reliable alternative across the U.S.
In short:
- Following a devastating earthquake, the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe in California relied on its solar-powered microgrid to maintain essential services, reducing energy costs and cutting carbon emissions.
- A national surge in microgrid installations, driven by plummeting solar and battery prices, is helping homes, hospitals and businesses maintain power during disasters while stabilizing electricity demand.
- Beyond resilience, microgrids offer economic and environmental benefits, such as maintaining more affordable energy prices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels during peak grid demand.
Key quote:
“Indirectly, we’re helping the grid. We’re lowering stress during those peak times because we’re able to feed the energy from the batteries back to the grid [rather than] direct to our bakeries.”
— Christopher Wolfe, senior director of environmental sustainability at Bimbo Bakeries USA
Why this matters:
Microgrids represent a lifeline in the face of climate-induced disasters, providing clean energy, improving health outcomes by reducing air pollution and ensuring that critical services like healthcare remain operational when conventional grids fail.
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