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July 30, 2025
Policy Corner
Environmental policy and human health: a 2025 federal and Wisconsin state update
Public policy fundamentally shapes the conditions in which people live, work, play and age, making it a powerful determinant of health outcomes. This includes policies that influence the natural environment, with direct and indirect consequences for human health. A recent commentary in The Lancet, “Connecting planetary boundaries and planetary health: a resilient and stable Earth system is crucial for human health,” highlights the deep interdependence between the health of the planet and human health, emphasizing why health professionals should have an interest in environmental governance.
2025 has seen a flurry of environmental policy activity at both the federal and state levels. This newsletter edition provides a high-level overview of recent policy developments, relevant shifts in public opinion, and resources that support health-sector engagement with environmental stewardship.
Model of the planetary health framework, from the Lancet's recent commentary “Connecting planetary boundaries and planetary health: a resilient and stable Earth system is crucial for human health”
Why this matters for academic medicine
For students, faculty, and staff in academic medicine, it is important to recognize the health impacts of environmental policies, which not only shape ecological conditions but also influence the social and physical determinants of health for the communities we serve. Whether it’s air quality regulations affecting asthma rates, or climate adaptation strategies that can reduce heat-related illness, public policy plays a critical role in shaping health outcomes and resilience. Integrating a climate and environmental lens into our work will be key to improving health outcomes for everyone in a changing world.
Federal policy developments
Since reentering office in January, the Trump administration has enacted multiple executive actions aimed at removing or weakening climate and environmental protections. These changes span several federal agencies and include:
- Rolling back pollution standards for land, air, and water
- Withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, an international accord which serves as the basis for the July 23 United Nations decision that holds countries legally accountable to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Reducing staffing and resources within federal environmental science agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Cutting billions of dollars in funding for clean energy initiatives and pollution control programs
- Scaling back the National Climate Assessment, a Congressionally-mandated tool for guiding disaster preparedness and climate mitigation. Access to this climate-related data has already been restricted, limiting the tools available for local governments and the public to use to prepare for environmental risks.
On July 3, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax-focused legislative package including implications for environmental stewardship and reduced climate mitigation funding. As summarized by Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and law firm Holland & Knight, environmentally-focused provisions in the bill include:
- Elimination of tax credits for clean energy transitions for individuals, businesses and localities
- Reinstatement of incentives for fossil fuel industry leasing of federal lands
- Withdrawal of community-level funding for climate resilience and pollution mitigation activities
These actions are individually documented and explained in further detail in the Sabin Center’s Climate Backtracker.
Wisconsin state policy updates
At the state level, Wisconsin's relevant policy actions focused more on environmental and public health. On July 3, Governor Tony Evers signed the state’s biennial budget into law after it passed through both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature on July 2. The Wisconsin state budget is a bipartisan process, which requires the Governor and members of both political parties in the state legislature to negotiate the final budget. The recently approved two-year budget shows continued support for clean agriculture practices and environmental stewardship including:
- Over $50 million in new allocations for clean water infrastructure and soil remediation—key to preventing exposure to contaminants linked to cancer, developmental disorders and other health risks
- Expanded funding for clean agriculture practices aimed at reducing fertilizer runoff and protecting wetlands
- Investments in local food systems to support community access to locally-grown and processed food.
For information on how these most recent federal and state laws will directly impact MCW’s missions, please refer to the July 11 EART update on Infoscope.
News & Updates
Majority of Americans feel personal responsibility to take climate action
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication has released its Spring 2025 edition of Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs and Attitudes, a report on the representative survey of 1,040 American adults asked about their current opinions on climate change in May 2025. When respondents were asked if global warming was personally important to them, 64% said yes, and 58% at least somewhat agreed with the statement that they felt a personal sense of responsibility to help reduce global warming. Other finds from the report that encourage climate action include:
- 65% of people think global warming is affecting weather in the United States
- 53% of people say they personally have experienced the effects of global warming
- 50% say their community will be harmed by global warming
- 61% disagreed with the statement that it is too late to do anything about global warming
- 53% disagreed with the statement that new technology can solve global warming without individuals making big changes in their lives
Findings from the Spring 2025 edition of the Climate Change in the American Mind report
New NAM Resource: Climate Journey map
The National Academy of Medicine’s Climate Collaborative released the Climate Journey Map to assist the health sector in its decarbonization and sustainability efforts. Through two dynamic resources, for health care suppliers and health care providers, these resources aim to support stakeholders “to be more environmentally responsible and resilient, contributing to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.” The Clinical Pathway in particular aims to support providers in recognizing the wide-ranging benefits of environmental sustainability, identify opportunities to integrate sustainability into business and clinical operations, measure and address emissions, and support long-term resilience.
The National Academy of Medicine Climate Journey Map: Clinical Pathway
Upcoming Events
MCW Advanced Practice Provider Lunch & Learn, August 6, 12pm-1pm
Christa Wagner, PhD, SHE Center Director, and Alexandra Zielinski, DNP, Internal Medicine, will present at the Advanced practice provider virtual lunch & learn on August 6, from 12p-1p, in a session titled “Planetary Health in Practice: Promoting Climate Smart Healthcare for Advanced Practice Providers.” The webinar will focus on the connection between human and planetary health and examine how the health sector contributes to environmental degradation. Please follow this link for more details. To attend the webinar, click here.
Hank Aaron State Trail fundraiser, August 9
MCW will have a team at the Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail 5k run/walk on August 9, starting at 8:30 am. The trail provides the community with opportunities for recreation and alternatives to commuting by car, and this 5k is its largest fundraiser! If you are interested, please click here for more details and registration. To participate on the MCW team, sign up for the $25 Team Run/Walk and indicate that you will be participating with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Happy trails!
MCW Cancer Center Fundraiser -- Audaxity Ride, August 17
The MCW Cancer Center will hold its inaugural bike ride and community movement to accelerate cancer research, Audaxity, on August 17 at American Familiy Field. The ride is open to people of all ages and abilities, with course lengths ranging from 3 to 100 miles. All proceeds from the ride will support cancer research at the MCW Cancer Center. If you are looking for other ways to support the ride, there are volunteer opportunities as well, such as helping with registration or water stations. For more information and to register, click here.
Funding Opportunities
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants:
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is accepting applications for grants of $2,500-$50,000 focused on climate change and human health, with rolling deadlines starting Jan. 23, 2025 and extending through July 24, 2026. The Fund plans to dedicate $1 million during that time to projects that pilot ways to reduce healthcare’s climate impact, explore connections between basic science approaches and planetary health, and prepare for climate-related natural disasters. For more information, review the grant details on the Fund website.
Resources & More
MCW is a member of several consortia and membership organizations with different resources to support engagement in climate action in academic medicine. Contact us for any assistance in signing up!
Global Consortium for Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) aims to unite health professional training institutions, health societies, and regional health organizations to create a global climate-ready health sector, prepared to mobilize and lead health promotion and response in the era of climate change, while restoring the health of the planet. Learn more and join here.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Climate Action Virtual Community provides meaningful connection to the myriad people in academic medical centers working across mission areas to address the climate crisis and improve institutional resiliency. Request an account using your MCW email address here. Once your account has been approved, click here to join the Climate Action and Sustainability group.
Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals. Learn more.
Interested in learning more about the SHE Center at an upcoming MCW departmental, institute, or center faculty and/or staff meeting? Email Dr. Wagner to schedule.
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