Taking Action

“This book could not be more timely. It arms the nursing community with science, tools, and urgency to meet this moment-and to lead. We need nurses not only at the bedside but also in the boardroom, in the classroom, in policy circles, and in public dialogue-shaping how we prepare, how we adapt, and how we protect health in a warming world.

I’ve come to understand that the future of human health is inseparable from the health of our planet. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the stability of our food supply, the spread of disease-all are influenced by our environment. And all are areas where nurses have deep insight and vital influence.

The next generation of nurses will need to be equipped with both clinical excellence and environmental literacy. And the healthcare sector must lead in reducing its own emissions and waste. To those reading this book: Your voice matters. Your leadership matters. And your patients-present and future-are counting on you to help create a healthier, safer, more resilient world.”

-Sen. Bill Frist, MD

Chair, Global Board, The Nature Conservancy

Former US Senate Majority Leader

Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon

“This is a groundbreaking work by two visionary nurse leaders in climate change. In a single volume, they confront the most urgent challenges and opportunities facing our profession, guiding every nurse-whether at the bedside, in the classroom, in the C-suite, or in the boardroom-toward meaningful action. Their combined expertise, drawn from years of practice in diverse settings, infuses this book with practical insights, inspiring stories, and evidence-based strategies that will ignite your passion and sharpen your purpose. This is more than a book-it’s a rallying cry. If you believe that nursing holds the key to solving today’s most complex health challenges, you’ll find here a road map to turn conviction into impact. Read it, share it, and join the movement that is redefining what it means to care.”

-Cole Edmundson, DNP, RN, FAAN

Chief Executive Officer, Nurses Boards Coalition

“This timely collection elevates nursing’s critical role in confronting the climate crisis. For nurses, healthcare providers, and anyone working at the intersection of climate and health, this book is essential reading. It offers the insight and urgency needed to lead change, build resilience, and shape a healthier, more just future for all.”

-Sue Anne Bell, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN

Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing

“There is unequivocal evidence of an acceleration in the rate of global warming over the past 15 years. Sea level rise, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and wildfires are just a few of the climate change-related hazards that increasingly threaten communities and result in population migration, illness, and injuries. This important book highlights the key issues at stake. It should serve as a wake-up call to the profession of nursing to unite in one voice, speak truth to the science of climate change, and advocate for the health and well-being of all people.”

-Tener Goodwin Veenema, PhD, MPH, MS, RN, FAAN

Senior Scientist & Senior Scholar

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

Susan Hassmiller

RN, PhD, FAAN

Susan Hassmiller is the Founder and Principal of Sulu Coaching and Consulting, where she focuses on coaching nurses and galvanizing the skills and expertise of healthcare leaders. She is also a Professor of Nursing at Florida State University and adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her career has been dedicated to strengthening the nursing profession, improving population health, and advancing health equity. For 25 years at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), she was instrumental in shaping and leading the Foundation’s nursing strategies to enhance the quality of care in the United States for individuals, families, and communities.

Katie Huffling

DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN

Katie Huffling is a Certified Nurse-Midwife and the Executive Director of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE). ANHE is a leading global nursing organization focused on the intersection of human and planetary health.

At ANHE, she collaborates with nurses and nursing organizations worldwide to elevate environmental health issues within the nursing profession. She is a fervent advocate for nurse-led initiatives supporting healthier environments for all and firmly believes in the transformative power of nursing.