A drastically changing environment can have severe impacts on public health—this is a reality we are currently facing in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change can “exacerbate existing health threats or create new public health challenges through a variety of pathways.”
Some examples include longer-lasting heat waves, extreme weather events, poor air quality and even increased precipitation causing changes to water quality. Overall, we are seeing summers with record-breaking temperatures, falls with stronger storms and extreme weather throughout the year. Heat waves in particular are increasing in frequency, lasting longer in duration and exacerbating comorbidities, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services. Combined with other climate-related challenges, we are truly facing a public health crisis.
While we can’t solve climate issues alone, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) is proud to continue acting on sustainability to drive long-term, positive impact for our communities, internally and with partners across the region.
Organizational Sustainability Initiatives
Over the past year, we have made changes at our organization to take purposeful steps towards holistic sustainability, including the creation and hiring of a Senior Project Manager tasked with enhancing our organization’s environmental sustainability work by recommending resources, policies and initiatives. This project manager serves as the Environmental lead for Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives, formulating recommendations based on data and metrics, and collaborating with stakeholders to track and develop opportunities for our organization. This role will continue to actively work to analyze our current practices and consult on best practices for continued growth and innovation in sustainability.
This individual is also the chair of CareFirst’s employee resource group (ERG), Action on Sustainability, Climate Change and the Environment (ASCE). This ERG’s mission is to enable meaningful impact at the community and regional levels by growing environmental awareness and facilitating engagement with action and urgency.
Through the start of strategic internal initiatives working to address environmental sustainability, we are committed to driving positive change and fostering healthier, more resilient communities for the future.
Learn more about our initiatives and their impact by reading our 2023 Mission Report.