Hill Heat

The 11th annual American Climate Leadership Summit 2022 (ACLS 2022) brings together world class speakers and diverse national and local leaders for four days of sharing and collaboration. It is the only national convening exclusively dedicated to building broad public support and political resolve for climate action. ACLS 2022 welcomes climate leaders of all levels–particularly those who are new and active at the local level. Join thousands of leaders like you who seek new connections and practical and immediately actionable guidance for engaging everyone, every day for just and equitable climate solutions.

Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four

11:00 AM-11:20 AM

National Health + Climate Forum Welcome + Opening Keynote

• Robbianne Mackin, Chief Development Officer, ecoAmerica
• Leyla McCurdy, MPhil, Chair, Climate for Health Leadership Circle Executive Committee
• Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association

11:20 AM-11:45 AM

US Leadership on Climate + Health: The Office of Climate Change & Health Equity at HHS

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the formation of the Office of Climate Change & Health Equity in summer 2021. Hear more about the goals and agenda for this office and some early accomplishments.

• John Balbus, MD, MPH, Interim Director, Office of Climate Change + Health Equity, Office Asst. Secretary for Health, HHS
• J Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, President + CEO, Trust for America’s Health

11:50 AM-12:20 PM

Where we are on Climate, Health + Equity: Tools from The Lancet Countdown

It has been 5 months since the 2021 Lancet Countdown U.S. Brief was released. How are we operationalizing the findings to build health equity through climate solutions? What indicators should be considered for the 2022 brief?

• Natasha DeJarnett, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville
• Renee Salas, MD, MPH, MS, Lead Author; 2021 Lancet Countdown U.S. Brief, Lancet Countdown; Harvard Global Health Institute

12:20 PM-12:50 PM

From Federal Framing to Local Action

Community leadership, citizen-science, and grassroots advocacy to address the health impacts of climate change. Hear directly from Houston residents collaborating for action.

• Grace Tee Lewis, PhD, Senior Health Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
• Denae King, PhD, Associate Director, Bullard Center for Environmental + Climate Justice at Texas Southern University
• Joetta Stevenson, President, Greater Fifth Ward Super Neighborhood #55

12:55 PM-01:10 PM

Natural Connections: Collaboration with the Environment

Restoring relationships with the natural world benefits both people and the planet. An example of the intersection of Anishinaabe teachings and Western ways of knowing in the healing process.

• Leah Prussia, Associate Professor, College of St. Scholastica

01:10 PM-02:00 PM

Mental Health + Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Inequities, Responses

In this session, hear from the authors of this report and the latest tools and resources for practitioners, communities, and policymakers to address mental health impacts of climate change.

• Susan Clayton, PhD, Professor of Psychology, The College of Wooster
• Christie Manning, PhD, Director of Sustainability; Assistant Professor, Macalester College
• Gavin Rienne, MPH, Epidemiology + Biostatistics PhD Candidate, University of Kentucky
• Derrick Sebree, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, Michigan School of Psychology

02:00 PM-02:10 PM

Networking Session

02:10 PM-02:35 PM

Climate Action: Local Health Leadership

Think globally, act locally is advice we hear often, but what does that look like for climate action that improves health and health equity?

• Madelyn Gustafson, Project Coordinator, National Environmental Health Association
• Armen Henderson, MD, MBA, Co-Founder, Dade County Street Response, Disaster Relief Team
• Nichole Lemin, MS, REHS, MEP, Assistant Health Commissioner/Director of Environmental Health, Franklin County Public Health

02:35 PM-02:50 PM

Climate Change + Disabilities: Collaboration with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Over 61 million Americans have a disability and more than 1 billion do world-wide. People with disabilities need to be engaged at every level of climate justice.

• Meighen Speiser, Executive Director, ecoAmerica
• Liz Weintraub, Senior Advocacy Specialist + Host of Tuesdays W/ Liz: Disability Policy for ALL, AUCD

02:50 PM-03:25 PM

Reports from the Field: Direct from Climate for Health Ambassadors

Get to know your host, Climate for Health, through this session that will outline the opportunities for you to act and advocate with tools and resources provided through our program. Hear directly from Climate for Health Ambassadors about their actions to engage communities, peers, and policymakers on equitable climate solutions.

• Milagros Elia, MA, APRN, ANP-BC, Nurse Founder/CEO, M. Elia Nature-Based Healthcare Solutions
• Kasondra McCracken, MCHES, Senior Lecturer, Arizona State University
• Sydney Otis, Network Engagement Manager, ecoAmerica
• April Taylor, Tribal Liaison, Chickasaw Nation
• Gregory White, Director, Decatur Active Living, City of Decatur

03:25 PM-03:35 PM

Caring for Yourself to Care for the Planet

Engaging with our climate emergency can feel overwhelming at times. To do our best work, we all need to prioritize self-care every day.

• Bruce Bekkar, MD, Chair, Public Health Advisory Council of the Climate Action Campaign

03:35 PM-03:55 PM

Looking Forward: Onwards for Climate and Health

Looking forward on climate and health, Natasha Sood, Executive Chair of Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, will provide remarks followed by a dialogue and live audience Q&A with Katherine Catalano, Deputy Director of the American Public Health Association’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity.

• Katherine Catalano, MS, Deputy Director, Center for Climate, Health + Equity, American Public Health Association
• Natasha Sood, MPH, Co-Founder, Medical Students for a Sustainable Future

04:00 PM-05:00 PM

How to Build Programs + Policies that Equitably Address Climate’s Health Effects

Connect with experts to dive into step-by-step playbooks detailing city strategies that address “the trifecta” of climate, health, and equity. Strategies highlighted were designed to give all children a healthy, fair start to life — no matter their socioeconomic status or their zip code — and to be easily replicated for maximum impact. To celebrate the end of a long Zoom day, we will be bringing our coffee and our creativity. Join us! Organized by Healthy Babies Bright Futures and the National League of Cities.

• Robert Blaine, DMA, Senior Executive + Director, Institute for Youth, Education, and Families, National League of Cities
• Emily Koo, Director of Sustainability, City of Providence, Rhode Island
• Emily Larson, Mayor, City of Duluth, Minnesota
• Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH, Sr Advisor Climate, Health + Equity, Public Health Institute; MSCCH