November E-News

Included in this edition:

• Support Needed for OSHA Heat Safety Standard
• Texas PSR Presents: AI's Impact on Climate Change & Existential Risks
• Code Blue for Patient Earth Conference
• 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health & Climate Change
• NEJM Call for Climate & Health Images

A note from Texas PSR's Executive Committee:

The election outcome was not what we, or the planet, had hoped for. Now, we face an increased risk of rapidly worsening global warming and the very real threat of armed conflicts across the globe, including those involving nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. Our path forward is clear: we must work harder, faster, and smarter. As health professionals here in Texas, we are trusted voices for our patients, neighbors, and communities. We must keep speaking the truth about the human-made conditions that threaten the livability of our planet. Together, we can and must keep pushing for change. Stay with us.

Support Needed for OSHA Heat Safety Standard: Sign-On Opportunity for Texas Health Professionals

Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) invites all Texas health professionals—physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, occupational health specialists, public health practitioners, and others—to sign a letter supporting OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rule for outdoor and indoor work settings. With extreme heat events on the rise, this proposed standard is crucial to protecting workers across high-risk industries in Texas, including agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. By joining this effort, health professionals can help advocate for safer, healthier working conditions and bring firsthand experience to this critical public health issue.

Texas PSR’s sign-on letter includes essential recommendations, such as monitoring heat illness at lower thresholds, implementing a buddy system, and supporting small employers with compliance resources. We encourage all Texas health professionals who are committed to worker health and safety to add their voices to this important call for action and stand with colleagues in advocating for a robust OSHA heat standard. 

Read More about OSHA's Heat Injury and Illness Prevention proposal and view the fact sheet here.

If you would like to sign onto our letter, please add your name here by 12/29/2024.

This Tuesday, Nov 12: AI Webinar Presented by Texas PSR 

Texas PSR is proud to present a webinar about AI's rapid development which is bringing with it new challenges and exacerbating existing ones. Join us for an in depth exploration of how AI is affecting climate change, an overview of how AI affects other risks including nuclear conflict, and learn about the current state of regulation and AI safety advocacy! Together we can discuss the role that PSR and health professionals have to play in this important issue. 

Code Blue for Patient Earth Conference 

Join Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate for their online conference, "Code Blue for Patient Earth 2024: Weathering Uncertainty" on Saturday, November 9 from 8AM-1:30PM. 

Up your learning curve and have some fun at this responsive and real-time education event. The half-day conference of more than 100 frontline experts from climate justice, mental health, nursing, pharmacy, physician, public health, social work, veterinary, and dentistry communities will discuss strategies that weave climate resilience into clinical, healthcare system, and local community practice. Plus, continuing education credits are available!  Register HERE. 

2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health & Climate Change

Last week, the 2024 Lancet Countdown on Health & Climate Change was released. This report highlights how, across many indicators, the health impacts of climate change are reaching record-breaking levels. From increases in heat-related mortality to tree cover loss and all-time high levels of global carbon emissions, the science shows that the threats from climate change continue to persist and will grow without bold action.

There were a few positive findings. The share of electricity from clean renewable energy is growing, more countries are developing health adaptation plans and, good news, the amount of air pollution deaths from fossil fuels declined between 2016-2021.

In addition to the global report, there’s an accompanying US Brief. This year’s brief highlights three priority opportunities for decision makers to center health in its approach to climate action:

• Rapidly reduce fossil fuel production and use while accelerating the transition to clean, non-combustion renewable energy to improve health and health equity.
• Build resilient, adaptable communities and support public health to protect people from climate impacts.
• Build U.S. global leadership through scaling up global investments and support for climate and health action.

NEJM Call for Climate & Health Images

Give to Texas PSR

We do so much with so little, imagine what we could do
with just a little bit more! 

To mail your contribution to us, please send a check to our new mailing address: Texas PSR, 3571 Far West Blvd. #3428 Austin, TX 78731

As a registered non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.