In a pivotal move, a coalition of organizations, primarily focused on maternal health rights, is urging the US government to allocate environmental justice funds from President Biden’s climate legislation to safeguard pregnant individuals and address reproductive justice in communities most susceptible to climate risks. The appeal comes as the fifth National Climate Assessment, mandated by Congress, highlights the adverse impacts of the climate crisis on maternal health.
Urgent Call to Action
The group, comprising organizations such as RH Impact, Metro Mommy Agency, the March of Dimes Mom and Baby Action Network, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), Nurturely, and Human Rights Watch, is advocating for a phased-out approach to fossil fuel operations and enhanced regulation of products derived from fossil fuels known to pose risks to fetal development and maternal health.
Climate Crisis and Maternal Health
The National Climate Assessment, for the first time, includes a section specifically addressing women’s health. It underscores the vulnerability of pregnant cisgender women to climate-related stressors, associating exposure to heat, particulate matter, and disaster-related stressors with poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages and low birth weight. The report emphasizes that marginalized groups, particularly Black pregnant individuals, are at a heightened risk, exacerbating existing social inequities.
Inequities and Racial Disparities
Scientific studies, medical research, and lived experiences in low-income communities highlight the dual vulnerability during pregnancy to environmental harms such as air pollution, climate disasters, and fossil fuel extraction. Notably, extreme heat disproportionately affects Black pregnant individuals, illustrating how climate changes can drive racial inequities.
Maternal Health Crisis in the US
Amid a deepening maternal health crisis in the US, with rising rates of preterm births, maternal deaths, severe morbidity, and maternal health illnesses, disparities between Black and white women are particularly pronounced. Research indicates that white pregnant individuals receive better treatment in the maternal health system, contributing to these racial advantages.
Call for Resource Allocation
While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocates significant funds to decarbonize the US economy and addresses environmental justice, advocates emphasize the need for specific allocations to community-based health workers. These workers, including community doulas, can play a pivotal role in disseminating information on protecting against climate harms during pregnancy, bridging the knowledge gap and facilitating community action.
Global Implications
Advocates are urging the US government to prioritize addressing pregnancy and newborn health inequities not only domestically but also at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The global conference, scheduled for November and December, provides an opportunity for countries to make commitments to cut carbon emissions and address the severe impacts of the climate crisis.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the call to safeguard maternal health becomes increasingly urgent. The coalition’s plea emphasizes the intersectionality of climate impacts and health disparities, underlining the need for immediate and targeted action to protect the most vulnerable during crucial periods of pregnancy and childbirth.
