Public Health Institute

The California-based Public Health Institute (PHI) if one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive public health organizations. A larger voice for the public health community in climate change planning is long overdue: community health should be in the forefront of planning for sustainable transit, housing, and economies. The public health and environment experts have traditionally worked through different venues however. PHI is working to improve collaboration given their common concerns about health impacts. Through the recently launched PHI Center for Public Health and Climate Change, PHI will increase the engagement of public policy advocates in climate change decisions. PHI will advocate for setting ambitious regional greenhouse gas reduction targets (Sustainable Community Strategies), and the creation of a Community Benefits Fund as part of implementation of AB 32. This advances Hewlett's efforts to broaden the voices call for strong efforts to address climate change.