The Interagency Crosscutting Group on Climate Change and Human Health (CCHHG) coordinates, implements, evaluates, and communicates federal research and scientific activities related to the human health impacts of global climate change. With health recently identified as one of USGCRP’s Focus Areas, the CCHHG works to address key gaps related to human health aspects of global change. CCHHG develops data-driven scientific products, such as tools, indicators, and assessments, including the 2016 Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health: A Scientific Assessment. The group also facilitates multi-directional communication among relevant stakeholders to help provide end-user input into federal research efforts. In addition to its U.S.-focused activities, the CCHHG supports USGCRP and its member agencies, including the U.S. Department of State and USAID, by bringing health expertise to international negotiations, collaborative projects, and capacity-building activities.
Workstreams
Review of Current Comprehensive Heat Vulnerability and Adaptation Indices: Analysis of Regional Differences and Gaps in Knowledge
This 2023 report highlights currently available state-level heat vulnerability indices, which can help communicate which communities are at increased risks of negative effects of heat on health, as well as current gaps in data and knowledge. Additionally, the report identifies key components of a comprehensive system for assessing heat vulnerability throughout the United States.
The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health: A Scientific Assessment
Health in the Fourth National Climate Assessment
Workshop Report on Predicting Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases
This report is the culmination of a workshop and webinars exploring activities, resources, capabilities and challenges to the prediction of infectious diseases at sub-seasonal and seasonal time scales. The webinars and workshop were led by a steering committee which included members from USGCRP’s Interagency Group on Integrative Modeling and the CCHHG, as well as the National Science and Technology Council’s Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology Working group. The report highlights key gaps and provides a summary of needed interagency actions ranging from research to forecast production—some of which have already started.
Federal Resources on Climate Impacts on Human Health
Understanding Decision Context to Improve Heat Health Information. The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) convened a regional workshop to understand the multidisciplinary user contexts for heat-health information, employing a decision calendar approach to document discipline-specific and time-scale-explicit decisions made to reduce heat-health risk.
- Compendium of Recent Federal Research on Climate Change and Human Health. This CCHHG product is a compendium of federally funded research activities focused on the human health impacts of climate change in the United States.
- Climate Resilience Toolkit. Developed and maintained by USGCRP, the Climate Resilience Toolkit provides resources and a framework for understanding and addressing the climate issues that impact people and their communities.
- National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS). Jointly developed by NOAA and CDC, the NIHHIS is an integrated system that builds understanding of the problem of extreme heat; defines demand for climate services that enhance societal resilience; develops science-based products and services from a sustained climate science research program; and improves capacity, communication, and societal understanding of the problem in order to reduce morbidity and mortality due to extreme heat.
- Data.gov Climate and Human Health Theme. Data.gov has compiled and catalogued publicly available data, tools, and resources. The Human Health theme under climate change resources provides 75 different datasets and resources, with descriptions and links for download.
CCHHG Member Agency Data and Tools
Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal. Developed and maintained by the NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the literature portal is an integrated, curated bibliographic database of global peer-reviewed research and gray literature on the science of climate impacts on human health.
Climate Change Indicators Report. Partnering with more than 40 data contributors from various government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations, EPA released a 2016 report that compiles a key set of indicators related to the causes and effects of climate change.
Environmental Public Health Tracking Network – Data Explorer. Hosted by the CDC, the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network’s data portal provides environmental exposure and health information at the county level, presented as climate and health indicators. This portal is continually updated with new datasets and has the functionality to map two datasets at the same time as well as download the data.
Heat & Health Tracker. This online tool developed by the CDC provides real-time, county-level heat and health information to help emergency and public health planners prepare for and respond to extreme heat events.
Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework. Developed by the CDC, the BRACE framework is a five-step process that guides health officials in developing strategies and programs to help communities prepare for the health effects of climate change.
Climate and Health: A Guide for Cross-Sector Collaboration. Developed by the CDC, this guide provides information to support health department staff in conducting cross-sector outreach for climate adaptation planning.
Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center. EPA synthesizes adaptation strategies illustrative of possible ways communities can address current and anticipated climate-related threats to public health.
Preparing for the Regional Health Impacts of Climate Change in the United States. A CDC resource summarizing the various health impacts climate change will have on different regions of the United States, actions taken by the CDC Climate and Health Program’s health department partners to prepare for and respond to climate change in their communities, and relevant tools and resources.
CCHHG Member Agency Educational and Communications Materials
Climate Change and Human Health Lesson Plans. Developed by the NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, these learning modules are designed for a variety of student audiences that explore the health impacts of climate change. Modules are suitable for use in high school and secondary school courses on earth, life, and environmental science; and history, geography, health care, or social studies classes. Modules are also available for medical school students and professional students in public health and health sciences.
Climate and Health Social Media Toolkit. The CDC Climate and Health Social Media Toolkit provides communication messages and strategies to engage local communities in climate and health adaptation. The toolkit includes suggested post copy, shareable graphics, videos, and best practices.
Climate and Health Videos. This video series, developed by the CDC, presents the challenges of climate-related changes such as more frequent episodes of extreme heat, storms, and flooding; poor air quality, and the spread of disease—and how we can address those changes.
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