Washington, D.C. — Today, on Earth Day, the Women’s Initiative at the Center for American Progress released a new issue brief that unpacks how climate change threatens maternal health and puts particular communities, especially communities of color, at heightened risk of negative health outcomes. The release also coincides with the first day of the Leaders Summit on Climate—a gathering of 40 national leaders from nations across the globe to discuss the urgent need for aggressive action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
The issue brief also spotlights five key strategies to protect pregnant and postpartum people from extreme heat, air pollution, and natural disasters, all of which contribute to negative health outcomes such as maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The recommendations include:
- Target resources to pregnant and postpartum people living in climate-affected areas
- Mitigate the effects of extreme heat and air pollution by improving the quality and resiliency of housing and local infrastructure
- Build on state efforts by establishing a national heat vulnerability index to better protect pregnant and postpartum people
- Expand access to maternal telehealth services, such as by allowing patient homes to serve as originating sites
- Improve access to family planning services, which can be done by strengthening the Title X program and making contraceptives more readily available
Read the issue brief here: “5 Ways To Improve Maternal Health by Addressing the Climate Crisis” by Osub Ahmed
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202.741.6292.