Climate Mitigation Resources

Public Health’s Role in Mitigation

In the context of climate change, mitigation refers to actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) that already exists in our atmosphere and oceans.

On the most basic level, mitigation is to climate change what prevention is to public health. It is public health's role to promote changes in policies, systems and environments that help prevent the acceleration of climate change.

Many mitigation strategies provide multiple benefits in addition to reducing CO2 in our atmosphere. We call these co-benefits. For instance, expanding tree canopy in an urban area not only reduces CO2, but also helps address the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and manage storm water.  Public health can advocate for mitigation strategies that have co-benefits, especially those that benefit our most vulnerable populations.

Selected Mitigation Resources

In Oregon

• Keep Oregon Cool
• City of Portland's Climate Action Now 
• Oregon Environmental Council’s Climate Protection Initiative
• Oregon Department of Energy
• Oregon Department of Transportation
• Oregon Department of Forestry

Pacific Northwest Region

• Western Climate Initiative
• The Climate Trust

National and International

• World Health Organization
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
• Climate Action Network
• Climate Solutions
• The Climate Group
• 350.org
• Carbon Mitigation Initiative
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

These links are provided for informational purposes. The inclusion of any website here does not constitute or imply its endorsement by the Oregon Health Authority. OHA does not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on these linked websites, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the official views of OHA.