​Hartford, CT — A multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals—including physicians, nurses, public health researchers, students, and policymakers—convened in Hartford today to spotlight the increasing burden of climate change on human health. The past year, which set a global record for the highest temperatures in recorded history, subjected Connecticut residents to significant environmental hazards. These included poor air quality and elevated pollen levels in the spring, unprecedented heatwaves and historic flooding in the summer, and extended drought conditions accompanied by brush fires in the fall.

“These patterns are not isolated incidents but indicators of a growing pattern,” explained Dr. Sanjiv Godse, a pediatric pulmonologist and chair of the Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action (CHPCA). “Climate change is no longer an abstract concept confined to academic journals—it is happening now in our own backyard.”

Dr. Sarah Evans, an environmental health scientist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Connecticut shoreline resident, noted, "Climate related illnesses are on the rise. As temperatures warm and extreme weather events increase we see higher rates of asthma, heat stroke, dehydration, and infectious disease outbreaks. Children are particularly at risk, with 88% of illnesses resulting from climate change being seen in children under 5-years old. Those living in under-resourced areas are at even greater risk."

Anne Hulick, a nurse with over twenty years experience, emphasized, "In health care we can take great care of sick patients: treat infections, fix broken bones, and even give patients a new heart. But, historically, we fail to connect the dots on how our environment impacts our patient’s health. As nurses on the forefront, we understand the problems better now, have the tools available to fix the problems, and will continue to work with our elected officials.”

Younger generations, who will disproportionately bear the long-term effects of climate change, are particularly concerned about its implications. Stefan Marczuk, a second-year medical student at UConn, reflected on the issue’s urgency as a future healthcare professional, stating, "Climate change will affect every aspect of my career, and as part of the future healthcare force it is a problem now and will be even worse if we do not act now. We need to continue to focus our efforts on decarbonization."

While efforts to build resiliency are ongoing in Connecticut, current actions are not sufficient. Jennifer Wang, Executive Director of the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, highlighted, "We continue to work with the Department of Public Health and partners around the state on climate and health resilience, training local health departments on this issue and helping them develop action plans. But while resilience is important, it’s incumbent on the state legislature to address mitigation.”

In response to the growing crisis, Connecticut legislators have proposed multiple bills, including HB5004, SB7, and SB9, aimed at bolstering climate resilience and public health infrastructure. State Senator Saud Anwar, chair of the Public Health Committee, underscored the importance of state-led initiatives in the absence of reliable federal intervention.

“This year becomes even more critical, as the federal government has made a policy decision to say that climate change is not real,” said Senator Anwar. “Neighboring states are looking to Connecticut for leadership, and we have an opportunity to set a precedent for climate-conscious policymaking that prioritizes health and resilience.” Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee added, “Everything is connected: how we build and develop communities, how we identify the spread of infectious diseases, how we screen for cancer. These are all affected by our climate and environment. We continue to work with our colleagues on the environment committee and on the planning and development committees. We understand the urgency of this moment.”

Healthcare professionals at the gathering urged legislators to accelerate policy implementation to mitigate the escalating health impacts of climate change. They emphasized the need for comprehensive, science-driven strategies to protect Connecticut’s most vulnerable populations from worsening environmental stressors.
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For media inquiries, please contact: 
Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action (CHPCA)
[email protected]
ConnecticutHPCA.org
Sanjiv Godse, MD  609-751-7709

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​Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action (CHPCA) mobilizes healthcare professionals to address the health impacts of climate change. Through education, advocacy, and policy engagement, CHPCA works to advance health equity, promote sustainable healthcare, and drive climate action across Connecticut.

The CT General Assembly’s Environment Committee is holding a public hearing on Monday, March 17th. We ask you to submit testimony for the bills outlined below. It's important that we remind our legislators that environmental regulations are important to Connecticut's citizens. 
Environment Public Hearing: Monday, March 17th at 10:00 AM in Room 2B at the state Legislative Office building. Also available on YouTube Live. 


CTLCV will be testifying in SUPPORT of these bills on the AGENDA:

• HB 6229 AN ACT CONCERNING A REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND POLYSTYRENE WASTE.
  • Purpose: To reduce the production of single-use plastics and polystyrene waste in the state.
  • Talking Points: 
    • Plastic pollution is a growing threat to our health, wildlife, and the environment. Microplastics are in all humans, but scientists are still studying their effects.
    • Polystyrene contains a likely carcinogen and never fully breaks down, turning into harmful microplastics. The EU has banned it—we should too. Connecticut’s children shouldn’t be eating from toxic trays.
    • Plastic waste forms massive garbage patches in the ocean, killing fish, turtles, and marine mammals that mistake it for food. In Connecticut, plastic waste flows into our rivers and out into the Long Island Sound, negatively impacting ocean habitats. 
• HB 7174 AN ACT CONCERNING RIPARIAN BUFFERS AND ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROVISIONS.
  • Purpose: To establish protections for riparian buffer zones, protect fishways along certain water passages and require certain insurance surcharge fees for environmental measures.
  • Talking Points: 
    • HB 7174 adds riparian buffers to Connecticut’s laws, filling a gap in our environmental protections. Connecticut is the only New England state without explicit safeguards for these natural buffers with many benefits to environmental health.
    • They reduce flooding and protect communities from extreme weather, like the devastating Naugatuck Valley floods in August.
    • They improve water quality by filtering pollutants and stabilizing stream banks.
    • They balance environmental protection with property rights by promoting responsible land use.
    • Natural buffers are an efficient and affordable tool, offering protection at little to no cost compared to expensive engineered solutions.

CTLCV will be testifying in OPPOSITION of this bill:

• HB 6249 AN ACT LIMITING APPEALS UNDER THE CONNECTICUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT.
  • Purpose: To limit who can take an appeal under CEPA for certain residential building permits.
  • Talking Points: 
    • HB 6249 represents a major rollback of environmental protections enshrined in the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), which has served as a critical tool for public accountability in environmental decision-making.
    • This bill weakens the public trust doctrine, which has protected Connecticut’s natural resources for decades by ensuring that concerned citizens and organizations can intervene in cases where the environment is at risk.
    • The bill drastically limits who can intervene in administrative or judicial proceedings related to residential building permit applications, including a vast majority of concerned citizens, environmental advocates, and local community groups who have historically played a key role in protecting public resources.
    • Low-income communities and marginalized populations—who are often disproportionately affected by pollution and overdevelopment—would have fewer avenues to protect their health and well-being.
    • Weakening CEPA in this way signals to developers that Connecticut is willing to sacrifice environmental oversight for expediency. It opens the door for future rollbacks on environmental protections, including in commercial and industrial developments.

Register to Testify
​Submit Written Testimony
Watch LIVE

You must register to testify for the Environment Public Hearing no LATER than 3 PM, Sunday, March 2nd. Submit written testimony using this On-line Testimony Submission Form. The speaker order will be posted on the day before the hearing on the CT General Assembly website at 6 PM. Any written testimony submitted before the meeting will be published in time for the hearing. Learn more about Testifying at Public Hearings on the CGA website.
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This is a critical week for environmental legislation, and your voice is needed more than ever! SB 647 is a devastating attack on clean energy and energy efficiency in Connecticut.


If passed, it would eliminate funding for energy efficiency programs, the CT Green Bank, heat pump incentives, and EV infrastructure. It would also divert funds meant for renewables toward fossil fuels, weakening support for true clean energy.


Here are a few talking points we recommend using to take action: 

• Connecticut’s Public Benefits Charge (PBC) funds vital energy efficiency programs that help lower costs for residents across the state. Fact sheet. 
• SB 647 threatens consumer protections, dismantles affordable energy programs, and makes it harder for residents to pay their energy bills.
• Tell legislators you want clean energy programs to remain fully funded and intact through the PBC. 
• How much funding from these programs came to your town last year? Find out here (page 16). 

We need a massive wave of opposition to stop this bill. Here’s how you can help:
✅ Show Up & Make Some Noise - Join us at 10 AM on March 6, LOB 2nd Floor Atrium. A strong crowd will send a powerful message.

✅ Submit Written Testimony – It’s quick and easy! Simply state your opposition and why clean energy matters to you. Need a place to start? Use the talking points above.

✅ Sign Up to Testify – You can testify via Zoom or in person. Your voice matters!

✅ Contact Your Legislators – Call or email them today. If they’re on the Energy & Technology Committee, contacting them is crucial.

Register to Testify
​Submit Written Testimony
​Watch Public Hearing LIVE

​SB 647 would gut climate progress, kill jobs, and hurt struggling families. We must stop it. Take action now!

You must register to testify for the Energy & Technology Public Hearing NO LATER than 3 PM, Wednesday, March 5th. Submit written testimony using this On-line Testimony Submission Form. View the full Public Hearing Agenda here. 

 Contact our office at (860) 236-5442 to let us know if you need more information. 

Don't forget, we post all of our watched bills to our Watchlist page.