Opposition to Climate Action and Reproductive Rights Is a Public Health Failure

Opposition to Climate Action and Reproductive Rights Is a Public Health Failure
8/10/2022 by Christine James


Climate Strike in Toronto, 2019. (Piqsels / Creative Commons)

Climate change continues to cause fatal flooding and heatwaves that are devastating the U.S. while the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, history-making legislation that would put $369 billion towards climate action and clean energy, is still on a tenuous path to passage. The reconciliation bill would reduce carbon emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030 and mitigate the most devastating impacts of the climate crisis, such as life-threatening illnesses and housing and job instability—all of which affect the health of pregnant women.

The climate’s connection to reproductive rights, especially abortion services, is often overlooked. The health and economic complications caused by pollution and a rapidly changing climate are major stress contributors and can have devastating consequences on developing fetuses, leading many to seek abortion services. But the right to abortion access continues to be under siege in states like South Carolina that want to outlaw websites providing abortion information. Between the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the stripping of the EPA’s authority, people who stand to lose the most in these troubling times are those with fewer reproductive choices and residents of pollution-ridden areas.
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The impacts of climate change are particularly dangerous for pregnant people and even more so for pregnant people of color. Adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth and stillbirth, are associated with heat and pollutant exposure, and these outcomes disproportionately affect Black women. At a time when their healthcare is limited by both access and racial bias, climate change only exacerbates an already fraught pregnancy journey.


Activists in a flash mob put on by the group “Act for Abortion” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 2022, the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)
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The chasm between law and public sentiment has created historic moments of collective despair, but despair can transform into collective action. In America, we can use the three M’s: our mouths, our muscles and our money. Show up at city council meetings and lawmakers’ town halls to question how they will protect our climate and reproductive rights. Demand support for climate action from elected officials like Senator Joe Manchin who initially opposed climate legislation. He eventually agreed to the reconciliation bill to meet the goal of slashing carbon emissions. Protest by using websites like WeWontGoBack.com to help find local rallies and concrete actions to take to help people find avenues for abortion care. Vote in city and state elections so that officials who support climate action and reproductive rights can enact legislation on a local scale. Donate to organizations like People vs. Fossil Fuels and local abortion access funds to ensure that their vital work can continue in these tumultuous times.
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https://msmagazine.com/2022/08/10/climate-action-reproductive-rights-abortion-public-health-women-joe-manchin/