As part of our ongoing interview series with members of the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, we caught up with Commissioner Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, Co-Chair of the Commission's Public Policy Working Group and President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), to discuss the organization’s new “Blueprint for a Healthier America” report and the impact of public policy on worker protection. 

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How does Trust for America’s Health’s new report serve as a policy roadmap for the incoming administration and Congress to enhance the nation’s health, economy, and national security?

Dr. J. Nadine Gracia: Health crises — ranging from high rates of chronic disease to natural disasters to infectious disease outbreaks — are threats to the nation’s economy, well-being, and security, so prevention and response are critically important. TFAH’s Blueprint report describes evidence-based policies for improving preparedness and strengthening individual and community health and safety — not only through public health but also by addressing structural drivers of diseases and health disparities. Implementing these recommendations will help protect Americans from today’s crises as well as the unknown threats of tomorrow.  

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What’s one action employers can take to protect workers and adapt to our changing climate, and how might supportive public policy further enable these efforts?

One action employers can take is to implement policies that protect workers from climate-related health risks, such as heat stress and poor air quality.  Supportive public policy can further enable these efforts by setting regulatory standards, providing resources, and offering guidance to ensure consistent and effective adaptation strategies across all workplaces.

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As a member of the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, what are your key objectives for this initiative? 

TFAH’s key objectives are to champion policies that address the health impacts of climate change on the workforce, promote strategies that enhance worker resilience, and integrate public health emergency preparedness into these efforts. I am honored and excited to co-chair the Public Policy Working Group. In that role, I look forward to engaging with the working group to influence policy development and promote cross-sector solutions that enhance worker resilience and safeguard public health in our changing climate.

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Is there a particular resource or podcast you’d recommend to our readers?

The Climate Rising podcast. In this series, Harvard Business School faculty engage with leaders from business and policy sectors to discuss how companies are confronting climate change, what additional steps they can take, and what they should be doing. It’s an insightful resource for understanding how the private sector can effectively address climate challenges.

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Dr. J. Nadine Gracia is the President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), a nonprofit, nonpartisan public health policy, research and advocacy organization that promotes optimal health for every person and community. Dr. Gracia is a national health equity leader with extensive leadership experience in federal government, the nonprofit sector, academia, and professional associations. As President and CEO, she leads TFAH’s work to advance sound public health policy, advance health equity, address the social determinants of health, and make health promotion and disease prevention a national priority.

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