Climate Change: Taking Action for Equity
April 4-10 is National Public Health Week.
Join American Public Health Association (APHA) and Healthy Acadia in celebrating the many public and private spheres working together to make individuals, families, communities, and our nation healthier, stronger, and more resilient. This year’s theme is, “Public Health is Where You Are.”
Each day this week, we are highlighting a community health program or sharing an inspiring story from a community member or partner that aligns with APHA’s theme of the day.
Where we live impacts our communities’ health, and each one of us has a role to play, for our own health, and the health of our community as a whole. Together we make health happen.
Climate Change: Taking Action for Equity
“Climate change poses one of the most significant public health threats today by creating a series of interconnected impacts on human health. As global temperatures rise, heatwaves become more frequent and increase the risk of heat stroke and make cardiovascular illnesses worse.
While climate change hurts everyone, people of color and those with lower incomes experience greater health harms than white and wealthy people, despite being less responsible for the problem. To address social inequities and improve our health, we need to strengthen partnerships with communities most impacted by climate change, support community-directed solutions and improve access to health care.
Building strong communities makes them more resilient. Communities with greater cohesion have better health outcomes after climate-related disasters. Addressing climate change alongside other inequities, like racial injustice, helps improve the health of communities. If we can keep global warming increases below 2 degrees Celsius, we can dramatically improve the health of children born today, for their entire lives. And we know taking action to reduce and halt climate change today will result in fewer disease outbreaks and better mental health worldwide.
- American Public Health Association, National Public Health Week 2022 (read more here).
We invite you to join us in celebrating the many community partners who are working to mitigate climate change and help communities across Downeast Maine to adapt and thrive. We selected two community organizations that are making a difference to highlight today.
Partner Highlight: Downeast Salmon Federation
“For 40 years, the Downeast Salmon Federation has worked methodically to protect and restore the ecosystems and economies of Washington and Hancock Counties. Rebuilding populations of Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish is crucial to the environment and culture of Downeast Maine. As our world warms, it is ever more important that the bounty and opportunity of well-managed rivers is made a priority. We have shown that it is possible to again see these special places filled with wild fish. These fish can and will support expanded harvests and a robust working waterfront — feeding Maine families and others forever.”
Since 1982, the Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) based in the coastal Washington County community of Columbia Falls, has worked to conserve wild populations of Atlantic salmon, other sea-run fish and their habitats, restore a viable recreational salmon fishery, and protect other important river, scenic, recreational, and ecological resources in eastern Maine. Their key areas of focus include protection and restoration of spawning and rearing habitat, historic fishing pools and critical cold water resources, providing experiential learning opportunities for youth and adults, and advocating for measures to ensure adequate and consistent fish passage for these anadromous or sea-run species.
Atlantic salmon were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. That same year, DSF created the Downeast Salmon Federation Land Trust to protect habitat for salmon and other fishes along the five major Downeast rivers - the Dennys, East Machias, Machias, Narraguagus, and Pleasant. DSF’s Land Trust prioritizes projects with significant recreational or cultural value in Washington and Hancock counties, including small watercraft access sites, portage trails, smelt brooks, swimming holes, and waterfalls.
Learn more about the Downeast Salmon Federation here.
Fish ladders provide safe passage to spawning habitat and enable young Atlantic salmon and other anadromous fish to head downriver on their journey to the Atlantic. Photo courtesy Downeast Salmon Federation.
Partner Highlight: A Climate to Thrive
Community Solar Farm celebration. Photo courtesy of A Climate to Thrive
“At A Climate to Thrive, we prioritize what we call “community-based, solutions-focused climate action.” This is climate action developed and implemented with community participation and focused on building community equity through ownership of solutions. This is also action focused on the many ways climate change intersects with health: physical and mental. Through our educational programs, internship program, and community conversations, we spotlight these intersections, collectively exploring and developing resources to foster resilience in the face of climate impacts.”
Launched as a community driven initiative in 2016, A Climate to Thrive (ACTT) seeks to achieve energy independence for Mount Desert Island (MDI) by 2030. Decentralized, local, renewable energy solutions will reduce pollution, create new businesses, generate year-round jobs that pay a living wage, and bring the community together around the shared goal of preserving our environment.
A Climate to Thrive brings the communities of MDIin an effort to make the island an epicenter of citizen engagement, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. ACTT is making MDI a model in these respects, showing other communities across Maine, New England, and nationally that these actions simultaneously enhance economic well-being and quality of life.
In the six years since its founding, ACTT has realized significant impact on MDI and in the statewide climate solutions movement. Thanks to numerous partnerships, coalitions, and community interest and support they have progressed rapidly towards their goal of energy independence for MDI, doubling solar generation on the island while also expanding their vision to consider the structural changes needed in Maine to support climate justice solutions in communities throughout the state.
Learn more about A Climate to Thrive here.
Together we make health happen.
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*Check out all of our guiding values on our website at www.healthyacadia.org/mission.