I recently had the chance to sit in on a presentation by Dr. Cheryl Holder at the 2024 Climate Conference on Climate and Human Health, and let me tell you, it was the kind of talk that stays with you. Dr. Holder, the Executive Director of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, didn’t just talk about air pollution in abstract terms. She brought it home with real stories, hard-hitting stats, and practical solutions that made me rethink how we approach the air we breathe.
Meet Ms. Anna Mae
Dr. Holder opened with a story that immediately grabbed the room. It was about Ms. Anna Mae, a 64-year-old African American woman living in Opa-locka, Florida. She doesn’t smoke, but she’s living with asthma, COPD, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. It’s a lot to manage, but Ms. Anna Mae is doing her part, taking her medications and staying on top of her health.
Ms. Anna Mae
But here’s the kicker: she’s still struggling. Why? Because the environment she lives in is working against her. Opa-locka has air quality issues that would make anyone wheeze. Ms. Anna Mae’s health problems are a direct result of the invisible toxins she breathes in every day. And as Dr. Holder pointed out, Ms. Anna Mae’s story isn’t unique.
The Air We Breathe
Dr. Holder shared some jaw-dropping statistics about air pollution, particularly its impact on communities of color. Did you know African Americans are 35% more likely to be exposed to particulate pollution than white communities? Or that nearly 50% of Latin Americans live in areas that fail to meet ground-level ozone standards?
For families in these neighborhoods, air pollution isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a life-altering problem. Respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD are through the roof. African American women, for example, have the highest death rates from asthma. And it’s not just about the air outside. Dr. Holder also talked about the homes people live in—often poorly ventilated, energy-inefficient spaces that trap pollutants inside.
Dr. Cheryl Holder speaks at the 2024 CAC Climate Conference on Climate and Human Health.
The Bigger Questions
What made Dr. Holder’s talk stand out was the way she tied everything together. She wasn’t just spouting numbers; she was asking the big, uncomfortable questions:
- Are we trying to save all life on Earth, or just humanity?
- Should we act now, or will it take an even bigger crisis to spur change?
- Is the goal to spend money or make money?
- And perhaps the most pressing: Are we actually trying to save the planet, or just ourselves?
It’s heavy stuff, but necessary.
Hope Through Action
The part that really hit me was the solutions. Dr. Holder isn’t about doom and gloom—she’s about action. From transforming transportation with electric vehicles and walkable cities to rethinking agriculture with sustainable practices, she laid out a roadmap for a cleaner, healthier future.
For example, cities like London and New York are implementing low-emission zones, slashing traffic-related pollution by up to 50%. In agriculture, simple changes like no-till farming and reduced pesticide use can cut ammonia emissions dramatically.
And then there’s energy. Solar, wind, hydropower—they’re already changing the game. Even nuclear power, which takes years to build and isn’t cheap, offers a reliable, low-emission alternative.
Bringing It Home
At the end of the talk, I kept coming back to Ms. Anna Mae. She’s doing everything she can to take care of herself, but the system around her needs to step up. Dr. Holder’s presentation was a reminder that solving air pollution isn’t just about fixing the environment—it’s about saving lives.
It’s about creating homes where the air inside is as safe as the air outside. It’s about policies that don’t just cap pollution but reduce it at its source. And it’s about making sure the solutions work for everyone, not just those who can afford them.
Stay Connected
Dr. Holder and her team at Florida Clinicians for Climate Action are on the frontlines of this battle. You can follow their work on Instagram @flclinicians and on Facebook and LinkedIn under Florida Clinicians for Climate Action.
And if you’re looking for more insights and inspiration, check out Dr. Holder herself on Instagram and TikTok @drcherylholder. Trust me, her passion and knowledge will leave you inspired.
This wasn’t just a talk—it was a call to action. And I, for one, am ready to answer. How about you?