The Interplay of Racism, Climate, and the Environment on Child and Adolescent Health: Implications for Pediatricians

We highlight the disparate effects of climate change and unhealthy environments on children and youth and suggest pragmatic steps for pediatricians to address the harms both inside and outside the clinic space.

Environment and climate can inflict long-term, multi-faceted harms on children. As trusted resources by families and policy makers, pediatricians have a unique role in addressing these harms.

Environmental toxins and climate change pose significant threats to the health and well-being of children and adolescents. There are inequities in how these threats are distributed in communities, resulting in many disparities. Pediatricians must prioritize addressing climate and environmental threats out of duty to their patients and as a matter of environmental justice. This can be done through research, advocacy, working with policymakers, and supporting youth in their advocacy and preparedness efforts, as well as through patient screening and clinical care.