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Oregon Health Authority

About the Toolkit

This toolkit provides local health jurisdictions guidance on how to integrate climate change work into local public health practice.

Content Disclaimer: Inclusion of links to external websites does not constitute or imply Oregon Health Authority endorsement. The views and opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the Oregon Health Authority.


Start using the toolkit

Getting Started
Resources to help you get ready to start using this toolkit

1: Build Capacity
Learn how to communicate climate and health issues, identify potential partners, and build capacity for future action.

2: Identify Climate Risks
Identify the scope of climate impacts and associated potential health outcomes. Convene internal partners to prioritize risks in your jurisdiction.

3: Engage and Listen
Engage stakeholders and collectively assess community strengths and vulnerabilities. Understand community concerns and learn about existing efforts already underway.

4: Plan for Action
Develop a plan that includes specific actions and strategies for addressing the public health effects of climate change.

5: Implement, Evaluate, and Improve
Evaluate the process. Determine the value of information attained and activities undertaken.

Using the toolkit

Health departments of all capacities can incorporate climate change considerations into existing planning and programming. For those with higher capacity, this toolkit can serve as a resource for developing a Climate and Health Resilience Plan (also called an "adaptation plan" or a "climate change preparedness plan.") 

This toolkit is adapted from CDC's Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework and modified based on the experience of five local health jurisdictions in Oregon. This toolkit builds on their lessons learned (pdf) through planning for climate change at the local level. We invite you to explore and identify the tools that are most useful and relevant to you and your community.


Help us improve

We want to hear from you. Please let us know if you are using the tools. What’s missing? What’s working? We value your feedback and hope to continue to build a better toolkit together. Please contact the Climate and Health Program to share your feedback.