San Francisco health officials expand $300,000 CDC grant for climate resilience strategy

The San Francisco County government meeting on July 4, 2025, focused on a significant resolution to retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health (DPH) to accept an increased grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This grant, amounting to approximately $86,000, will support the San Francisco Department of Public Health Climate and Health Program, bringing the total funding to $300,000 for the period from September 1, 2021, to August 30, 2026.

Matt Wolf, the manager of the Climate Change and Health program, presented the resolution, emphasizing the need to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on public health. He highlighted that San Francisco is particularly vulnerable to climate-related health issues, such as extreme heat and wildfire smoke, which have been increasing in frequency and severity. The DPH has been receiving funding for this initiative since 2013 and is one of only ten jurisdictions to benefit from this federal funding opportunity.

Wolf detailed the program's objectives, which include adapting public health services to current and future climate stressors and collaborating with various city departments to implement effective strategies. One key initiative is the Heat and Air Quality Resilience Project (HACR), aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness and resilience against climate impacts. This project involves multiple workgroups focused on areas such as building weatherization, green infrastructure, community programs, and emergency response actions.

During the meeting, Supervisor Maher expressed appreciation for the DPH's efforts and inquired about immediate plans to protect vulnerable populations, particularly unsheltered residents and seniors, in light of the anticipated severe wildfire season. Wolf responded that the DPH is collaborating with the Department of Emergency Management to develop emergency preparedness actions and is working on establishing an extreme heat surveillance system to monitor hospitalizations related to heat and air quality.

The discussions underscored the city's commitment to addressing the health impacts of climate change and enhancing resilience for its most vulnerable residents. The meeting concluded with a focus on the importance of ongoing collaboration and data analysis to inform public health strategies in the face of climate challenges.