Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Climate Change: Believing that climate change is a public health crisis, we work to reduce the use of greenhouse gas emissions by advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels toward clean energy. We educate both the public and members of the medical community to better understand the links between climate change and human health, and we engage in advocacy with decision-makers to mitigate climate change and related air pollution in Washington State. In 2023, we held several educational and training workshops in order to support health professionals in learning about climate change and developing successful advocacy skills. Our health professional members and staff spoke at public hearings on proposed fossil fuel projects and clean and renewable energy initiatives, in support of land use protections to limit fossil fuel projects and infrastructure in our region, and in support of energy choices that reduce our region's contribution to climate change. WPSR members supported the next generation of health activists by speaking about climate change with the University of Washington, Washington State University, Virginia Mason, and before medical groups and associations with an interest in the issue of Climate Change and Health.

Nuclear Weapons Abolition: Because the use - whether accidental or intentional - of even one nuclear weapon would have disastrous consequences, we work to prevent the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our efforts in 2023 focused on educating and impacting decision-makers and on building a statewide grassroots movement calling for nuclear weapons abolition. The coalition, Washington Against Nuclear Weapons, has grown to over 50 organizational members. We held a number of meetings with our members of Congress and their staff, urging them to support policies that would reduce the likelihood of nuclear war. Our staff and volunteers educated the public on nuclear weapons issues through media placement and appearances, educational events across the state, and a speakers' training for interested volunteers.