Health Professionals For A Healthy Climate

Electrification for health: every school day thousands of minnesota kids ride to school on diesel buses that expose them to diesel exhaust, causing harm to their health. Electric school buses (esbs) improve student health and academic performance, and reduce greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. Diesel exhaust has nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that trigger asthma attacks and contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Nitrogen oxides stunt the growth of children's lungs robbing them of a healthy future. Minnesota school districts have an unprecedented opportunity to apply for federal and state funding to purchase clean school buses that will save money, improve student health and academics, and reduce climate pollution. Hphc voices the health impacts and other concerns about diesel vehicles to decision-makers. Working with school districts to convert to esbs, will lead into other fleet conversion efforts, ideally involving vehicles used by health systems.