Episode Summary: "Climate Change Is A Childcare Issue"

Podcast: No One Is Coming to Save Us
Host: Gloria Rivera
Release Date: September 12, 2024
Produced By: Lemonada Media in collaboration with Neighborhood Villages

Introduction

In the fifth season of No One Is Coming to Save Us, Gloria Rivera delves into the intricate and often overlooked intersection between climate change and America’s childcare crisis. This episode, titled "Climate Change Is A Childcare Issue," sheds light on how escalating climate-related disasters directly impact the lives of young children and the essential services that support their families.

Climate Change’s Immediate Impact on Childcare

Gloria sets the stage by illustrating the present-day realities of climate change, contrasting common perceptions of it as a distant threat with its current, tangible effects. She states:

"[Climate change] is not some far-off science fiction future. We are already experiencing the consequences today." – Gloria Rivera [02:29]

Using California as a focal point, the episode highlights the state’s record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires, underscoring the escalating severity of these events due to climate change. The discussion emphasizes that these environmental crises are not only altering landscapes but also disrupting the daily lives and health of children.

Health Implications for Children

Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and clinical associate professor at Stanford Medicine, provides a firsthand account of the health repercussions stemming from wildfires and poor air quality:

"We used to think that the placenta provided some protection, but we've actually found evidence of this pollution in a developing fetus." – Dr. Lisa Patel [06:17]

She details how pollutants like PM2.5, which are prevalent in wildfire smoke, pose severe health risks to children, including premature mortality, asthma, and other chronic conditions. The particulate matter in the smoke not only affects children’s immediate respiratory health but also has long-term developmental consequences:

"All of these things are toxic to any human being, but particularly to infants and young children because their lungs are rapidly developing." – Dr. Lisa Patel [06:38]

Educational and Community Challenges

The episode further explores the compounded challenges faced by schools during climate crises. Dr. Patel recounts her personal struggles during the wildfires, balancing her role as a pediatric hospitalist with the safety of her own family:

"We were doing patchwork solutions for Covid and that the next year when kids went back to school in person...they were just going to open the windows. And I was thinking...what is going to happen? You're going to open the windows to protect from COVID but then you're going to let that foul wildfire smoke in?" – Dr. Lisa Patel [12:15]

This scenario underscores the dilemma schools face in maintaining healthy environments for children amid conflicting safety concerns.

Childcare Centers as Frontline Responders

Susan Gilmore, director of the North Bay Children's Center in Northern California, shares insights into how childcare centers have become pivotal in crisis response:

"Our families are essential employees and they're needed in the community right now. That's where we are, the first responders for the first responders." – Susan Gilmore [24:26]

Gilmore discusses the unprecedented challenges her center faced during the Tubbs Fire, one of California's most destructive wildfires. The center had to rapidly adapt to ensure the safety and continuity of care for over 600 students across 13 locations. This included establishing communication networks, tracking families' locations, and reopening childcare centers promptly to support essential workers.

Financial Struggles and Policy Implications

The episode sheds light on the financial vulnerabilities of childcare centers, highlighting the precarious nature of their funding:

"90% of our budget is funded by state funding...the first time in my history...that I wasn't waking up in the middle of the night trying to figure out how to cover the payroll we just released a week ago." – Susan Gilmore [25:28]

Gilmore emphasizes the critical need for stable and consistent funding to sustain these essential services, especially as crises like wildfires and pandemics become more frequent and severe.

Building Resilience and Future Preparedness

Both Dr. Patel and Susan Gilmore advocate for enhanced preparedness and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change on childcare services. Dr. Patel emphasizes the importance of educating families and communities about the risks and implementing robust air quality management systems in schools:

"Climate preparedness should be built into emergency preparedness. Checking the air quality index and ensuring kids stay indoors on poor air quality days is essential." – Dr. Lisa Patel [15:27]

Susan Gilmore echoes the need for a dynamic and adaptable response framework:

"The playbook needs to be edited every year. We've learned how to respond to threats we never even dreamed of, and we're going to continue to improve our strategies." – Susan Gilmore [27:08]

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Gloria Rivera wraps up the episode by reiterating the urgent need to recognize and address climate change as a critical childcare issue. She calls on parents, educators, policymakers, and communities to advocate for the necessary resources and support systems to protect the youngest members of society:

"Climate change is a childcare issue and not just in some faraway science fiction future. To actually secure a better future for our children tomorrow, we need to be thinking about it." – Gloria Rivera [27:16]

Key Takeaways

• Immediate Effects of Climate Change: Climate-related events like wildfires and heatwaves are no longer future threats but present challenges affecting children's health and safety.

• Health Risks: Exposure to pollutants, especially PM2.5, from wildfires has severe and long-lasting effects on children's respiratory and overall health.

• Childcare as Essential Services: Childcare centers play a crucial role in supporting essential workers and maintaining community stability during crises.

• Funding and Policy Needs: Stable and sufficient funding is imperative for childcare centers to effectively respond to and recover from climate-induced disasters.

• Preparedness and Education: Building resilient systems and educating communities about climate risks are vital for safeguarding children’s well-being.

Notable Quotes

• Gloria Rivera: "Climate change is not some far-off science fiction future. We are already experiencing the consequences today." [02:29]

• Dr. Lisa Patel: "We used to think that the placenta provided some protection, but we've actually found evidence of this pollution in a developing fetus." [06:17]

• Susan Gilmore: "Our families are essential employees and they're needed in the community right now. That's where we are, the first responders for the first responders." [24:26]

• Gloria Rivera: "Climate change is a childcare issue and not just in some faraway science fiction future. To actually secure a better future for our children tomorrow, we need to be thinking about it." [27:16]

Final Thoughts

In "Climate Change Is A Childcare Issue," No One Is Coming to Save Us poignantly captures the urgent intersection of environmental crises and childcare. Through compelling interviews with Dr. Lisa Patel and Susan Gilmore, the episode highlights the immediate and far-reaching impacts of climate change on children, emphasizing the need for robust support systems, informed policies, and community-driven resilience to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for future generations.