Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense, posing serious health risks across the United States. It is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and contributes to cardiovascular problems, pregnancy complications, and other heat-related illnesses. Vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, outdoor workers, pregnant women, patients with chronic and mental diseases, and low-income communities, face the greatest danger. For detailed information on heat’s health impacts, please visit our Extreme Heat page.
MAACH is proud to be the leading organization for Delaware’s first Heat Awareness Week. Join us May 18-22, 202, in educating residents on recognizing and preventing heat-related illnesses, promoting safety, and sharing resources to protect Delawareans.
Data Centers
Check out this Opt Ed about Data Centers and Health written by Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Climate and Health Members… Tully and Arya: Data centers shouldn’t sacrifice public health
Clean Air for All
Air pollution is a significant issue in the mid-Atlantic region. The main culprits are fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone. These pollutants contribute significantly to suffering and premature death from diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung cancer, and dementia. To reduce this toxicity, we need to burn less fuel, adopt more sustainable agricultural practices, and implement other changes. These improvements would create a more livable environment for our population, resulting in less disease and a healthier region and planet.
The Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Climate and Health actively promotes this healthier future by advocating for clean energy and more sustainable agricultural practices.
Offshore Wind
Wind energy promotes public health by offering a clean alternative to fossil fuels, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This leads to improved air quality and helps mitigate climate change, potentially lowering the incidence of respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and climate-related health risks. By supporting cleaner air and a more stable climate, wind energy contributes to creating healthier communities and reducing the overall burden of disease.
For more information on Offshore Wind in Delaware, please see The Sierra Club of Delaware’s Offshore Wind Facts and DNREC’s Offshore Wind Informational Page.
Advocating for Electric School Buses
Diesel buses and natural gas engines produce greenhouse gases, contributing to heat-related illnesses, deaths, and extreme weather-related health problems. Diesel buses particularly affect children and drivers due to exhaust emissions inside the cabins, leading to 3–12 times higher levels of particulate pollution and nitrogen oxides compared to outside air. These elevated levels can impair cognitive function in the short term and cause respiratory problems—ranging from frequent coughs to asthma—in the long term. Consequently, children riding diesel school buses may experience poorer school attendance and performance.
Diesel buses also impact communities, especially in dense urban areas, as they circulate multiple times daily, increasing local air pollution levels. Lower-income communities are most affected due to limited access to healthcare and the financial impact of missing work due to illness. On a larger scale, the 180,000 diesel school buses in the U.S. significantly contribute to transportation carbon emissions.
While stop-and-go driving in urban areas leads to poor diesel engine performance and higher tailpipe emissions, electric school buses operate most efficiently in these conditions and produce no tailpipe emissions. Both the National PTA and the American Lung Association advocate for school bus electrification. We agree that electric school buses offer an opportunity to improve health—especially for vulnerable children—reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the school experience for many children.
Promoting Plant-Based Nutrition
The Mid-Atlantic for Climate and Health actively supports the promotion of plant-based nutrition for the health of our communities. We seek to actively educate the community about the triple benefits of plant-based nutrition: reducing our carbon footprint, decreasing deforestation, and improving personal health. Collaborating with organizations like the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, we’ve hosted community events including film screenings of They’re Trying to Kill Us, plant-based potluck dinners, and public medical group programs. These initiatives focus on achieving better health through plant-based nutrition.
Sustainable Healthcare
Beyond addressing the immediate health impacts of extreme heat, MAACH also recognizes that the healthcare sector itself has a significant environmental footprint. MAACH advocates for helping the health system reduce its impact by promoting sustainable practices and reducing waste. This includes supporting efforts to minimize single-use plastics, improve energy efficiency in healthcare facilities, transition to renewable energy sources, and implement comprehensive waste reduction programs. By working with healthcare institutions to adopt environmentally responsible practices, MAACH aims to create a healthcare system that not only treats climate-related health impacts but also actively contributes to mitigating climate change itself.
