Today the 911 Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Climate Communities Network (CCN) released a new project visually depicting local priorities related to climate change, health, and equity from communities across the United States. Launched last year, the CCN is building a collective and community-driven effort to amplify innovation, drive resources, inform policy, and co-design solutions to address local climate-related health inequities.
This project is intended to foster a stronger understanding of what the participating community leaders – CCN Members – see as key climate and health challenges and opportunities in their communities. CCN Members named their top issues of focus, helping the group of 18 home in on shared priorities – including engaging with youth to lead climate change activities in their community, prioritizing human connection to the Earth, and building climate-resilient communities. Members also shared photos of the strengths their communities bring to the table in addressing the climate crisis and their communities’ visions for the future. The ongoing CCN program will further the ideas and strategies that arose from this endeavor, with the goal of bringing these visions to life.
Explore the photographs and community insights at nam.edu/programs/climate-change-and-human-health/climate-communities-network/climate-communities-network-member-experiences.
This effort used the Photovoice methodology, “a powerful qualitative research method that combines photos and accompanying words generated by participants ().” This creative process poses meaningful questions and uses photography and storytelling to represent and share participants’ experiences and expertise.
911 the Climate Communities Network
Many U.S. communities do not have equitable access to the resources and infrastructure needed to keep people and neighborhoods healthy, particularly in the context of the worsening climate crisis. These communities are also often not engaged as equal partners in the decisions that affect their health and well-being. In response to this, the NAM established the CCN to bring together community leaders, or Members, to work collaboratively to identify and develop solutions to climate-related health inequities in their own communities. The CCN will also elevate Members’ expertise and local community efforts to address the structural drivers of these inequities. The CCN is a part of the NAM’s Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity.
to stay updated on the CCN and the NAM’s climate and health work.
