On April 19, 2022, America’s Essential Hospitals submitted comments on the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. The tool was created to identify communities that are disadvantaged by climate and economic injustices, such as climate change, high housing costs, pollution, and health burdens.
Federal agencies will use the tool to direct to disadvantaged communities investments in climate, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, clean water infrastructure, and legacy pollution remediation through the Justice40 Initiative.
America’s Essential Hospitals generally supports the tool, as it will direct investments to target several social determinants of health. The association recommended the tool show aggregate data at the state and county levels; currently, the tool only can display data at the community level. Aggregate data would support cross-sector collaboration and better inform state and local policymakers making investments and public policies in these areas.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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