Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Health and Climate Change

On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). This executive order signaled that climate change would be a priority in policy-making across the federal government, established a number of new offices, and instructed agency heads to take steps toward developing climate policies.

On November 30, 2022, the CDC's Agency-wide Climate and Health Task Force issued a “FY 2022 Strategic Framework” to help communities track, prevent, and respond to the public health threats of climate change. The CDC established the Task Force in 2021 in response to the Biden Administration’s EO14008 (discussed below). The strategic framework was developed by the Task Force to guide the future of climate and health activities across CDC, and in coordination with partners, to increase the capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the ongoing and emerging health impacts of climate change. The framework outlined over 50 actions the agency aspired to take within the next 3-5 years. These actions aimed to address environmental justice and health equity, leverage CDC’s interdisciplinary partnerships, utilize innovative data practices and research to inform policy and decision-making and build a climate-ready workforce.

Biden Administration (2021-2025)

National Climate and Health Strategic Framework

On November 30, 2022, the CDC's Agency-wide Climate and Health Task Force issued a “FY 2022 Strategic Framework” to help communities track, prevent, and respond to the public health threats of climate change. The CDC established the Task Force in 2021 in response to the Biden Administration’s EO14008 (discussed below). The strategic framework was developed by the Task Force to guide the future of climate and health activities across CDC, and in coordination with partners, to increase the capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the ongoing and emerging health impacts of climate change. The framework outlined over 50 actions the agency aspired to take within the next 3-5 years. These actions aimed to address environmental justice and health equity, leverage CDC’s interdisciplinary partnerships, utilize innovative data practices and research to inform policy and decision-making and build a climate-ready workforce.

Information Collection Request for Monitoring Climate and Health Program

On December 6, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a notice inviting comment on a proposed information collection project titled “Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Performance Measures” to continue the National Center for Environmental Health’s Climate and Health Program (CHP) monitoring of recipient programs’ planning and delivery of public health activities and adaptation strategies under a new cooperative agreement. (86 Fed. Reg. 69057, Dec. 6, 2021). CHP supports U.S. cities and states to build and enhance resilience to the health impacts of climate change.

Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). This executive order signaled that climate change would be a priority in policy-making across the federal government, established a number of new offices, and instructed agency heads to take steps toward developing climate policies.


First Trump Administration (2017-2021)

N/A


Obama Administration (2009-2017)

Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative

Started in 2010, the Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative (CRSCI) helps public health agencies use the five-step Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework to identify likely climate impacts in their communities, potential health effects associated with these impacts, and their most at-risk populations and locations.

Climate and Health Program

CDC formally established the Climate and Health Program in 2009, after establishing a climate and public health framework in 2006. Its mission is to (1) lead efforts to identify populations vulnerable to climate change; (2) prevent and adapt to current and anticipated health impacts; and (3) assure that systems are in place to detect and respond to current and emerging health threats.