S. 2340: Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025, aims to address the impacts of climate change on public health. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a dedicated office along with a national strategic action plan to safeguard the health of communities and healthcare systems from climate-related issues.

Key Provisions

Establishment of the Office

The bill establishes the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this office is to coordinate and enhance the federal response to the health impacts of climate change.

Director of the Office

A Director will be appointed to lead the office, reporting directly to the Secretary of HHS.

Office Responsibilities

The office will have various responsibilities, including:

• Assessing how climate change is affecting the health of U.S. residents.
• Identifying and addressing the needs of communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change, particularly environmental justice and medically underserved communities.
• Providing reliable information on the health consequences of climate change.
• Tracking data related to environmental conditions and disease occurrences due to climate change.
• Expanding modeling and forecasting capabilities regarding health impacts related to climate change.
• Improving communication about climate risks and potential mitigation strategies to the public and health professionals.
• Supporting climate-resilient initiatives in the health sector.
• Developing response plans for health threats linked to climate change, such as extreme weather events and infectious diseases.
• Leading actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the healthcare sector.
• Promoting workforce development in public health to prepare future professionals for climate-related health issues.

National Strategic Action Plan

Not later than one year after the enactment of this bill, the Secretary of HHS must develop a National Strategic Action Plan. This plan will be based on scientific evidence and public health strategies to prepare the healthcare system for the health impacts of climate change.

Consultation with various stakeholders, including federal agencies, state governments, and communities impacted by climate change, is required in the development of this plan.

Plan Components

The National Strategic Action Plan will cover:

• Identification of at-risk communities and populations.
• Improvement of health resilience against climate impacts.
• Communication efforts to promote public health strategies related to climate change.
• Assessment of existing health programs and their effectiveness in addressing climate health impacts.
• Recommendations for new regulations or policies to enhance the healthcare system's response to climate change.

Advisory Board

The bill establishes a permanent science advisory board to provide expert advice on climate change impacts on public health. This board will consist of appointed members with relevant expertise and experience, and it will submit annual reports to Congress.

Funding Provisions

The bill authorizes specific appropriations for implementing its provisions:

• $10 million annually from 2026 through 2031 for the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity.
• $2 million for the national strategic action plan in 2026.
• $500,000 for the advisory board in 2026.

Implementation and Assessments

The Secretary of HHS will oversee the implementation of the office and the National Strategic Action Plan. There will be regular evaluations to ensure that the objectives are being met and to incorporate new findings related to climate change and public health.

Relevant Companies

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