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Environmental Justice

As nurses, we recognize that bold action is needed to address the catastrophic health impacts of global warming, and the associated extreme weather conditions such as wide spread drought, wildfires, and flooding all over world. We witness daily the illness brought on by environmental injustice in our communities; disease from air pollution, inadequate access to clean water, substandard and polluted housing, and toxic dumping. We know that globally 8 million people die annually from illnesses directly attributable to air pollution, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels. If present trends continue, the world is facing a catastrophic increase in global temperature between 3.7 and 6 degrees celsius by the end of the century. As temperatures rise, vector-born diseases, such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever and lyme are expected to spike. In addition, further global warming will magnify the already disastrous health impacts of fossil fuel pollution, hunger and malnutrition due to desertification, devastation and displacement from severe weather events and sea level rise, all leading to immeasurable human suffering and economic ruination.

CNA/NNOC is committed to providing relief for communities impacted by extreme weather events and environmental injustice both in the US and around the world. We are committed to supporting policy measures to protect, air, food, and water services for all people. We support the Paris Accord, the transition from fossil fuels to a clean energy sector. We will continue to work in our communities, nationally and internationally, to build a powerful movement for environmental and climate justice with the life-and-death urgency the this task requires.

Resolution on Environmental and Climate Justice »

NNU logo

Nurses call on House to join U.S. Senate in passage of reforms

NNU applauded the U.S. Senate for passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which the union called “an important first step to enact reforms to rein in pharmaceutical price gouging and act on the climate crisis,” and urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the bill as soon as possible.

National Nurses United
August 8, 2022

Nurse speaks at rally against fossil fuels

Nurses Across California Fight Fossil Fuel Industry

In Southern California, nurses teamed up with doctors and environmental and health care activists under the Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling project to lobby the Los Angeles City Council.

California Nurses Association
June 19, 2019

Congressional Scorecard

National Progressive Organizations Announce New Congressional Scorecard on Public Health, Environmental Issues

The scorecard shows which members of Congress have co-sponsored five key bills that would collectively ensure a strong, just future of public health and environmental protection in the United States.

National Nurses United
August 7, 2018

The Carr Fire

As Carr Fire Rages Out of Control, CNA/NNU Nurses are Both Heroes and Victims

The Carr fire sweeping through Redding has affected hundreds of nurses in the Redding area. California Nurses Association/National Nurses United represents registered nurses at the two main hospitals in Shasta County, Shasta Regional Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center Redding.

California Nurses Association
July 30, 2018

Nurses Stand Up in Climate March Actions Across the Country

Registered nurse members of National Nurses United (NNU) will join with thousands of others across the nation in climate march actions this Saturday, April 29, calling particular attention to how climate change and environmental pollution threaten the health and safety of their patients.

National Nurses United
April 28, 2017

Nurses from 25 countries

Nurses from 25 countries unite to demand “People and the planet over profits!”

Save one life, you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives, you’re a nurse. Gather together six continent’s worth of union nurse leaders — and you’re a force of healing that can change the world!

Bonnie Castillo , Executive Director of National Nurses United
September 20, 2019

Florida nurses holding sign

Florida Nurses Fight to Ban Fracking, Protect the Planet

Several National Nurses Organizing Committee RNs representing Florida's Gulf Coast traveled to the state capital in Tallahassee March 13 to call on their lawmakers to ban fracking. There are currently five bills in Florida’s House and Senate that call for a ban on fracking, but several of the bills have loopholes that will allow big oil to start fracking in the Sunshine State.

National Nurses United
March 11, 2019

Nurses and community members rally for clean water

RNs Fight to Protect Florida’s Drinking Water

National Nurses United RNs are fighting to protect Florida’s drinking water with a ban on all forms of fracking for oil or natural gas in the state.

National Nurses Organizing Committee
February 6, 2019