Across California and the United States, the devastating consequences of the climate crisis are intensifying.
Given that UC Health is dedicated to providing accessible and equitable care, it is leading a system-wide effort to address its contributions to climate change and the resulting impacts on vulnerable populations. As part of the Transforming UC Health Systems to Reduce the Impact of Climate on Vulnerable Populations project from UC Office of the President, each UC Health center developed climate resilience plans and best practice toolkits.
These climate resilience toolkits will better prepare UC Health to face the impact of the climate crisis by providing effective and proactive adaptation measures. They are designed to be shared with other health systems to spread best practices on how to reduce risk exposures and vulnerabilities, and how to increase equitable operational resilience.
The toolkit topics were selected with input from stakeholders and subject matter experts at each UC Health center. UC Davis Health focused their toolkit on extreme heat preparedness, with a target audience of aging populations. UC Irvine Health’s toolkit focuses on building resilience though external community engagement. UCLA Health’s toolkit includes resources to support staff during climate events. UC San Diego Health developed various toolkits about clinical guidance for specific climate risks.
Finally, UCSF Health’s toolkit outlines how to integrate climate resilience planning into emergency management procedures. You can view UCSF Health’s Climate Resilience Emergency Management Integration Toolkit on our website. A webinar to disseminate the climate resilience work completed by the UC Health system was hosted on March 26th, 2025. Watch the Climate Ready Healthcare: Building Resilience with Collaborative Toolkits webinar recording to learn more.
UC Health Centers develop climate resilience toolkit to help health systems better prepare for the impact of the climate crisis.