It’s been a rocky year for public health and climate change. We began 2024 with the news that 2023 had been, by far, the hottest year on record. The average temperature had increased so much from the prior year, that one scientist described it as not just breaking records, but a leap-frogging of them.
At the end of the year, we also learned that the tundra in the Arctic, long a carbon sink, had become a carbon source. It had warmed so much, that these uniquely frozen, wild places began emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide. The world had uncorked a massive bottle of stored carbon and begun spraying it into the atmosphere like shaken champagne.
Equally matched progress on climate change
On the other hand, president Biden’s equally record-breaking climate change investment—the Inflation Reduction Act—has activated billions of dollars. This money has begun flowing to states, cities and private companies. And it has helped spur new actions and investments in electrical grid upgrades, clean energy innovations, electric charging, and myriad other things. 
This intersection of dire environmental news and extraordinary opportunity was the impetus for The Medical Care Blog to produce its own consensus statement on climate change and public health. Forty-five of our regular blog contributors and journal editors joined on as signatories, helping us amplify the message that the changing climate is an overwhelming threat and action from public health and medical professionals is needed.
To do our part, the editors of the blog dedicated a year of coverage to authors and researchers who were keen to explore, explain and direct us on climate change, public health and health care. Over the course of the year, nearly one-third of our posts addressed climate. Authors covered everything from Ocean Health to Provider Communication Strategies, to the direct and indirect impacts on Healthcare Utilization and Disability Rights. Unsurprisingly, the most popular climate change post this year was a call to advocate for social change!
A shift to the political determinants of health
As we turn the page from 2024, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. The Medical Care Blog has spent the past year amplifying the voices of researchers, practitioners, and advocates who have illuminated the far-reaching impacts of climate change on health. Yet, as pressing as the climate crisis remains, it is clear that the challenges of public health extend beyond environmental factors alone.
We need to explore how governance structures, political ideologies, and policy choices shape the health of populations. The political content deeply influences the social and environmental determinants of health, which have long been staples of public health discourse. Laws, budgets, and political priorities determine who has access to healthcare, clean air, safe housing, and other fundamental health needs. We must critically examine these political determinants of health.
The Medical Care Blog in 2025
The year 2025 presents unique challenges and opportunities in this arena. The U.S. re-elected a president that took actions counter to climate science and health equity. It its prior term, the Trump administration rolled back 100+ environmental protections. As a result, the stakes for public health have never been higher.
Expected policy decisions by the new administration will have cascading effects. These will likely impact Medicaid expansion, public health funding, reproductive health access, and other environmental protections. Our blog will aim to provide timely, evidence-based analysis of these developments and their implications for health equity.
We will cover the impact of healthcare legislation on marginalized communities. We will also explore local public health strategies, and ways to build resilience where public health evidence is questioned. Also, we will highlight stories of innovation. We will showcase how individuals and organizations are navigating and challenging political barriers to the public’s health.
As we shift our focus, the blog remains committed to addressing the climate crisis. The themes of climate change and health equity are inextricably linked. And we will continue to feature content that addresses this critical intersection. Join us in 2025 as we strive to understand the policies choices that will shape our collective well-being.