Resources

Climate and Health in Illinois / BRACE Report — Illinois Department of Public Health
A foundational Illinois-specific report on how climate change affects health across the state, including heat, flooding, drought, air quality, ticks, mosquitoes, water, food systems, and mental health.

Climate — University of Illinois Extension
Illinois-focused education on climate trends, extreme rainfall, flooding, drought, humidity, heat stress, agriculture, and community resilience.

Climate Change in Illinois: Public Health — The Nature Conservancy
A concise Illinois public health fact sheet covering flooding, asthma and allergies, vector-borne disease, and mental health impacts.

Climate Change in Illinois Executive Summary — The Nature Conservancy
A statewide overview of how climate change is affecting Illinois, including health, agriculture, ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities.

Climate Change and Health in Illinois — NRDC
An Illinois-focused issue brief on climate-related health threats, including heat, air pollution, flooding, infectious disease, food and water contamination, and mental health.

BRACE-Illinois — UIC School of Public Health
Background on Illinois’ public health climate adaptation work, including heat, flooding, air quality, drought, ticks, mosquitoes, and related health risks.

Adaptation in Action: BRACE-Illinois — American Public Health Association
A case study on Illinois climate and health adaptation work, including public health planning and vulnerability mapping.

Chicago Climate Action Plan — City of Chicago
Chicago’s climate planning resources, including strategies to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for climate impacts.

Climate Resilience — City of Chicago
Chicago-specific information on climate resilience, flooding, stormwater, extreme heat, and green infrastructure.

Climate Action — Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Regional climate planning resources for northeastern Illinois, including emissions reduction, flooding, heat, transportation, and community resilience.

Plan for Climate Resilience — Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
A regional planning resource focused on protecting communities from climate impacts including flooding, heat waves, and transit disruptions.

Hot Weather: Understanding and Preventing Heat-Related Illness — Illinois Department of Public Health
State guidance on heat-related illness, prevention, symptoms, and who is most at risk.

Extreme Heat — Ready Illinois
Preparedness guidance for Illinois residents during extreme heat events.

Beat the Heat — City of Chicago
Chicago-specific information on cooling areas, wellness checks, and heat safety resources.

Cooling Centers — Cook County
Information on cooling centers available across suburban Cook County during periods of excessive heat.

Cooling Centers Map — City of Chicago
A map of Chicago cooling centers and air-conditioned spaces available during extreme heat.

Climate Change Heat Stress: Impacts on Health and Agriculture — University of Illinois Extension
Illinois-focused educational resource on heat stress and its impacts on health, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, and communities.

Cooked: Survival by Zip Code
A documentary about the 1995 Chicago heat wave and how systemic inequities shaped who was most at risk.

Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago — University of Chicago Press
Eric Klinenberg’s book on the 1995 Chicago heat wave and the social, political, and neighborhood-level conditions that contributed to unequal health outcomes.

Chicago, Illinois Adapts to Improve Extreme Heat Preparedness — Environmental Resilience Institute
A case study on Chicago’s response to extreme heat risk and climate adaptation planning.

Climate Change Adaptations for Healthcare — UIC School of Public Health
A local resource on flooding risks in Illinois and how health care facilities can prepare for climate-related flooding.

Stormwater and Flooding Strategy — Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
A regional resource on stormwater, urban flooding, riverine flooding, infrastructure, and community risk in northeastern Illinois.

Climate Resilience — City of Chicago
Chicago information on stormwater, flooding, green infrastructure, and climate resilience planning.

Mold Frequently Asked Questions — Illinois Department of Public Health
State guidance on mold exposure, cleanup, respiratory risks, and when to seek help.

Reducing Your Exposure to Mold — Illinois Department of Public Health
Practical health guidance for reducing mold exposure after water damage or flooding.

Reducing Your Exposure to Mold Fact Sheet — Illinois Department of Public Health
A downloadable IDPH fact sheet on mold, asthma, allergies, respiratory symptoms, and cleanup precautions.

Flooding in Chicago Is Getting Worse — Chicago Sun-Times / MWRD
A local article on worsening Chicago flooding, climate change, stormwater systems, and mold concerns.

After a Flood, Mold Sticks Around and Can Make People Sick — Chicago Sun-Times
A local reporting resource on the health consequences of flooding and mold in Chicago homes.

Outdoor Air — Illinois EPA
Illinois EPA information on air quality forecasts, the Air Quality Index, ozone, particulate matter, and Air Pollution Action Days.

AirNow
A tool for checking current and forecasted air quality by location.

AirNow Interactive Map
A map for viewing real-time air quality conditions, including ozone and fine particle pollution.

Wildfire Smoke — Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois health guidance on wildfire smoke exposure, indoor air, filtration, and steps to reduce risk.

Air Quality, Lung and Heart Health — American Public Health Association
A public health resource connecting climate change, particulate matter, ozone, asthma, allergies, heart health, and lung health.

Climate Change and Respiratory Health — Respiratory Health Association
Illinois-based respiratory health advocacy resources related to air quality, climate change, diesel pollution, clean transportation, and lung health.

Air Quality Monitoring Report: Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood — Environmental Law & Policy Center
A local air monitoring report focused on particulate pollution and diesel-related air quality concerns in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Getting Health on Track: Cleaner Locomotives for Healthy Air — American Lung Association
A health-focused report on locomotive pollution, diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and health risks for rail-adjacent communities.

Union Station Chicago Platform Air Quality Study — U.S. EPA
An EPA study documenting elevated fine particulate matter on Chicago train platforms compared with nearby streets.

Cicero Rail Yard Study — U.S. EPA
A local EPA study focused on rail yard impacts on air pollution in the Chicago region.

Air Quality Monitoring Report: Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood — Environmental Law & Policy Center
A Chicago-specific report noting diesel pollution from highways, rail yards, ports, intermodal facilities, and construction sites.

Clean Air Wins: Agreement Will Slash Diesel Pollution as Part of Englewood Rail Yard Expansion — Environmental Law & Policy Center
A local example of community concern and pollution reduction related to rail yard expansion in Englewood.

Respiratory Health Risks for Children Living Near a Major Rail Yard — Environmental Health Perspectives
A peer-reviewed study on respiratory health risks for children living near freight rail facilities.

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy — Illinois EPA
The state’s strategy to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in Illinois waterways and downstream waters.

Nutrient Loss Reduction — University of Illinois Extension
Illinois Extension resources explaining nutrient runoff, water quality, agricultural practices, and the state’s nutrient reduction goals.

Agriculture Practices — University of Illinois Extension
Information on agricultural runoff, phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, tile drainage, soil erosion, and water quality impacts in Illinois.

Sources and Solutions — University of Illinois Extension
A resource explaining point and non-point sources of nutrient pollution, including agricultural and urban runoff.

Excess Nutrients — Illinois EPA
Illinois EPA information on nitrogen, phosphorus, algal blooms, drinking water, recreation, and aquatic life impacts.

Nutrient Pollution — Illinois Environmental Council
An Illinois advocacy resource on nutrient pollution, water quality, agriculture, CAFOs, fertilizers, sewage treatment, and the Gulf dead zone.

Water Pollution from Agriculture in Illinois Continues to Increase — Prairie Rivers Network
A local advocacy resource on agricultural runoff, nutrient pollution, and Illinois’ progress toward nutrient reduction goals.

Nutrient Reduction Research — Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
A regional resource on nutrient reduction, water quality, and the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

Tickborne Illnesses — Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois public health information on tickborne diseases, prevention, and risk.

Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick — Illinois Department of Public Health
A public-facing IDPH resource on tick bite prevention, common Illinois ticks, and what to do after a tick bite.

Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick Flyer — Illinois Department of Public Health
A downloadable tick prevention flyer from IDPH.

Vector Control & Surveillance — Illinois Department of Public Health
State information on mosquito, tick, and pest surveillance in Illinois.

West Nile Virus — Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois information on West Nile virus, mosquito prevention, surveillance, and health risks.

West Nile Virus Surveillance — Illinois Department of Public Health
County-level Illinois surveillance data for West Nile virus in birds, mosquitoes, horses, and other animals.

Medical Entomology Lab — Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois
University of Illinois research and surveillance on mosquitoes and ticks of medical and veterinary concern in Illinois.

Free Tick Identifications — Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab
A free University of Illinois service allowing Illinois residents to submit ticks for identification and contribute to statewide surveillance.

Planetary Health Report Card
A student-led initiative that evaluates health professional schools on planetary health curriculum, research, student initiatives, community outreach, and campus sustainability.

Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education
Courses, curriculum resources, competencies, bootcamps, and trainings for health professionals and educators.

Climate Resources for Health Education
Open-access climate and health education materials for health professions training.

Climate for Health Ambassador Training — ecoAmerica
Training and communications resources to help health professionals talk about climate and health.

ClimateRx
Patient-centered climate and health communication resources for health professionals.

Climate & Health Certificate Program for Working Professionals — Yale
A certificate program for professionals seeking deeper training in climate and health.

Climate and Health Organizing Fellowship — Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Health Equity Education & Advocacy
A fellowship focused on climate, health equity, and organizing.

Climate Change & Health — American College of Physicians
Physician-focused climate and health educational materials.

Climate & Health Curriculum Reform in Medical Schools — American College of Physicians
Resources for integrating climate and health into medical education.

Diploma in Climate Medicine — University of Colorado Anschutz
A continuing education program for health professionals focused on climate medicine.

Health Care Without Harm
Resources for health care climate action, sustainability, and advocacy.

Practice Greenhealth
Tools and guidance for health care institutions working to reduce environmental impact and advance sustainability.

Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health
Clinician-focused resources on climate change, health, advocacy, and policy.

My Green Doctor
A practice management tool to help health care offices adopt more sustainable practices.

The Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification
A certification program focused on sustainability practices in health care settings.

Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Courses
Free and paid courses on sustainable health care practice.

HealthcareLCA
A database of health care life cycle assessments.

M+ WasteCare Calculator
A tool for health care facilities to estimate waste-related environmental impacts.

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Climate and environmental health education resources for nurses, including continuing education opportunities.

ANHE Learning Site
Continuing education and training resources for nurses on climate, health, and environmental health.

Nurses Climate Challenge
Resources to help nurses educate colleagues and communities about climate and health.

CHANT: Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool
A survey and engagement tool focused on nurses’ climate and health knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

ANHE Sustainability Toolkit
Tools for nurses and health professionals working to advance sustainability in health care settings.

Climate, Health & Equity — American Public Health Association
Public health resources on climate change, health equity, and community-level action.

Mental Health and Our Changing Climate — American Psychological Association
A report on climate change, trauma, stress, mental health, and resilience.

Climate Advocacy Lab — Illinois
State-level climate advocacy data, messaging, and campaign resources.

One Green Thing Assessment
A personal climate action assessment tool.

Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action
Illinois clinicians and health professionals working at the intersection of climate, health, and advocacy.

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition
A statewide coalition working on clean energy, climate justice, environmental policy, and affordability in Illinois.

Illinois Environmental Council
Statewide environmental policy and advocacy resources.

Sierra Club Illinois Chapter
Illinois-based environmental advocacy, campaigns, and community action.

Prairie Rivers Network
Illinois-focused resources on clean water, rivers, wetlands, and environmental protection.

Respiratory Health Association
Chicago-based public health organization focused on lung health, clean air, tobacco prevention, and respiratory health.