Health - CleanAIRE NC

Doctors, nurses, and health professionals are among the most trusted messengers on the health impacts of air pollution and climate change.

Through CleanAIRE NC Health, we provide resources to help health professionals discuss climate change and air pollution with their patients, train health professionals to leverage their trusted voices and advocate for equitable solutions that improve health in our communities now and for future generations, and work with healthcare systems and universities to rein in their harmful emissions.

Join Our Health Network!

Education

We provide health education to prepare clinicians for clinical practice and leadership in a changing climate, to help patients identify and adapt to climate impacts and air pollution, and to build resilience in our healthcare infrastructure. We’re also working with grassroots community groups to provide education on the health effects of climate change and air pollution to community members.

Health Advocacy

Through CleanAIRE NC’s Health program, we provide resources to help health professionals become health advocates. Health Advocates hold polluters accountable and advocate for policy solutions that lead to better health for our communities. A rapid and fair transition to clean energy is needed to ensure North Carolinians have clean air to breathe now, and a stable climate for the health and prosperity of future generations. If you are interested in joining our efforts, please contact Health Manager, Sophie Leruth at [email protected] to learn more.

CleanAIRE NC Health also enables us to center our policy and citizen science work in solutions that benefit health. Citizen scientists in Charlotte’s Historic West End, after monitoring particle pollution for several years, presented a report to the Mecklenburg County Commission and requested a federal monitor be placed in the community. Residents can now check air pollution levels at that monitor on the County’s website at any time.

Clean Construction Partnership

Diesel-powered construction equipment has long been a major source of air pollution on construction sites. As one of the fastest-growing states in the country, the demand for construction continues to climb. The Clean Construction Partnership aims to reduce particulate matter exposure and its adverse health effects by adopting clean construction standards. Clean construction projects take steps to reduce diesel emissions on construction sites by prioritizing the use of new equipment with modern pollution controls and limit unnecessary idling.

Current members of our Clean Construction Partnership include some of the largest hospital and university systems in the state: Atrium Health, Novant Health, UNC Charlotte, and East Carolina University.

Health Advisory Board

We couldn’t do this work without CleanAIRE NC’s dedicated Health Advisory Board members, whose expertise and commitment help advance cleaner air and healthier communities. As leaders in their fields and communities, Board members provide expert guidance, strategic direction, and scientific and clinical insight through quarterly meetings, ensuring CleanAIRE NC’s health programs are grounded in evidence-based practice and high-quality expertise across the most critical air quality and health issues.

Meet our Advisory Board members from across the state, consisting of medical and health professionals: