Climate change is a public health issue

At a time when climate change has barely been acknowledged in the presidential debates and most political conversations leading up to this consequential election season, it can be hard to believe we have the collective will to address our shared predicament. When we’re not feeling hopeful, it can be hard to muster the resolve to keep fighting.  

Ecophilosopher Joanna Macy and her colleague Chris Johnstone have coined the term “active hope” as a way to address this challenge. They explain that “hope” is not a noun but a verb, something we do rather than have. When we envision a future we hope to see and align our actions with our deepest values, we engage in active hope.  

Our changed climate feels like an overwhelming problem, beyond the scope of any one of us, yet depends on all of us. One thing every U.S. citizen can do is vote. Vote as if our lives, our children and grandchildren’s lives depend on it — because it does. Vote as if our planet depends on it — because it does. Don’t underestimate the power of one vote.   

The earth’s climate has changed and the livability of the planet is being threatened. Last year was the world’s hottest; this July was the hottest month with July 22 the hottest day ever recorded. Our oceans are record hot, and sea surface temperatures worldwide continue to increase. These warm waters fuel extreme hurricanes like Helene.  

Climate-driven heat waves, severe rains and floods, extended droughts, extreme wildfires, and flooding during hurricanes are all becoming more frequent and more intense, according to NASA.   

The effects of climate change and extreme weather have direct impacts on human health, affecting food and water, the air we breathe, and habitability of the places we call home. Anna Jones-Crabtree from Vilicus Farms, says, because of five years of dry conditions, “Trying to grow food and take care of the land in the Northern Great Plains is becoming increasingly difficult on a planet with an unstable climate.”  

Despite crop losses during these years, she remains hopeful and committed to “supporting land stewardship practices.” 

There is hope.  

Texas, an oil and gas state, is leading the country in wind energy and batteries. Renewable energy has given Texans some of the lowest power bills in the country. 

Two new, massive wind power projects are being built in Montana and should be operational in 2025. The American Wind Energy Association states that wind energy could provide more energy than what is needed in the entire state by 2030.  

The U.S. has solved seemingly impossible problems before and politicians played a critical part. During the 1970s energy crisis, President Richard Nixon created science-based organizations such as the EPA and the Department of Energy to solve and study environmental problems, leading to the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Nations came together to solve the ozone hole. 

We have the technology to solve this climate crisis, we just need to implement it to scale. Elected officials remain in office for two to six years; who we elect on Nov. 5 is critically important.  

We are members of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, an organization of health professionals in the state, working together to address climate change as a public health issue, because the climate crisis threatens the health and future of our communities.   

Engage in active hope by choosing and supporting candidates who acknowledge the climate crisis and are working toward a future that protects the health of our planet and those you care about. 

With a few exceptions, you can register and vote up until Nov. 5, 8 p.m. at your election office.

Hillery Daily, ND. LAc, Hamilton; Jen Robohm, Clinical Psychologist, PhD, Missoula; Colette Kirchoff, MD, FAAFP, Bozeman.