Event Recap: Maternal & Child Health in a Dangerous Climate
Moms Clean Air Force, EcoMadres, and The 19th hosted “Maternal & Child Health in a Dangerous Climate,” a forum addressing the link between environmental hazards and maternal health disparities for women of color. Experts highlighted how air pollution, extreme heat, and toxic plastic exposure are not just environmental issues but direct threats to maternal and child health. These risks disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, where systemic inequities leave families more vulnerable.
Dr. Julie A. González, Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow at American University’s Center for Environment, Community, and Equity, emphasized that maternal health disparities are not inevitable. “In communities of color, especially Latino and Black communities, these exposures drive higher rates of complications and illness. My research shows that exposure to air pollution and extreme heat is a key driver, but we can reduce these risks with stronger air quality standards and policies that prioritize public health.”
Protecting maternal health means protecting communities from the environmental threats that target them. This is advocacy for clean air, safe environments, and the fundamental right to a healthy future.
