Climate change has increased the frequency of extreme weather events and compounded natural disasters. Heat, wildfires, flooding and pollen are already threatening public health and disproportionately affecting individuals in susceptible situations and vulnerable locations. In this special issue of JACI, we address what is known and not known about the biologic as well as clinical upstream and downstream effects of climate change on asthma and allergy development and exacerbation. We present potential actions individuals can take at the family, neighborhood, community, healthcare system, national and international levels to build climate resilience, to protect their own health and the health and welfare of others. We emphasize the importance of actions and policies that are context specific and just. We emphasize the need for the healthcare system, which contributes between 3-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce its carbon footprint and build resiliency. Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in helping policymakers understand the effects of climate on the health of our patients. There is still a window to avoid the most serious effects of climate change on human health and our planet.
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