CM Narcisse on climate health and preparedness budget
Narcisse asks about DOHMH's climate health budget and initiatives. Martin says climate change is a public health issue with a dedicated team in environmental health, woven throughout the agency. Anderson notes climate impacts are now built into the new needs review process with OMB.
Chair, one more question on climate, you know, climate, health, and climate change preparedness.
We had a study released by DOHMH
on March of this year, outlined the department efforts to address the public health impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, we know that, flooding, air quality, and energy, I mean, energy and security.
As climate-related health risks continue to grow, understanding the department priorities and preparedness efforts remain critical.
What is DOHMH budget for climate health initiatives and how is it allocated across key priorities?
What are the department primary climate health initiatives and how does it measure success?
Yeah, thank you for that question.
Climate change is a public health issue, absolutely.
If it's the heat-related events or the air quality challenges, we know that the climate affects people's health in a very powerful way.
We have a whole team dedicated to this intersection of climate change and public health as part of our environmental health division.
You know, the work that we do on this is...
is not sort of easily sort of contained to just that division, though.
I mean, this is really woven in throughout the whole agency.
So we can get back to you with regard to the specific budgetary items.
Let me hand it to Aaron and see if he has anything to add.
Yeah, thanks, Commissioner, and thanks, Senator Seas.
Yeah, the one thing I would add is that there is a process, actually, for new needs, whether it's on the expense side or the capital side, to take into consideration climate impacts.
So that's actually been built in as part of the review process with OMB and with City Hall.
So that is a consideration that comes up regularly and whenever we're thinking about new resources.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you.
Councilmember Wong, followed by Wilson.