February 12, 2026
Press Release
Cancer Experts: Climate Denial Endangers Us All; Rescinding the Endangerment Finding puts lives, livelihoods, our communities and our health at risk
Madison, WI – The Trump administration has finalized its decision to make climate denial official U.S. policy, moving forward with a scheme that will leave every American at risk of more climate chaos, more disease, illness, and premature death connected to climate pollution.
“Climate change and its impact on human health is beyond any doubt. Any policy that refuses to acknowledge this reality is a policy that will doom us all for generations to come.” Dr. Joan H. Schiller, MD, OUCH Int’l Steering Committee Chair and co-founder.
By rescinding EPA’s Endangerment Finding, which eliminates EPA’s requirement to protect people from the pollution that causes climate change the administration is abandoning it’s obligation to protect people's health and the environment.
In 2009, the EPA found that carbon pollution, methane, and four other climate pollutants endanger public health, a finding endorsed by both the Supreme Court and by Congress in the Clean Air Act. By reversing this finding, the administration ignores thousands of scientific studies demonstrating how climate change, fueled by climate pollution, is causing devastating impacts on people’s lives, is increasing cancer rates, and is impairing the success of cancer treatment.
These health risks include the devastating impact climate change has on cancer care. Air pollution, a warming planet, and climate change all contribute to increasing cancer incidence and have major impacts on cancer treatments, outcomes, and access to care. We are bitterly disappointed that the EPA has chosen to rescind the Endangerment Finding without any input from medical oncologists.
As physicians and health care providers, we have a moral obligation to protect our patients from preventable diseases. This is particularly true when it comes to cancer—a disease responsible for about a quarter of all deaths each year in the United States. As cancer doctors, we have seen the pain and suffering that so many patients go through. It is unacceptable for those in power to neglect opportunities to reduce suffering.
Press Release
Cancer Experts: Climate Denial Endangers Us All; Rescinding the Endangerment Finding puts lives, livelihoods, our communities and our health at risk
Madison, WI – The Trump administration has finalized its decision to make climate denial official U.S. policy, moving forward with a scheme that will leave every American at risk of more climate chaos, more disease, illness, and premature death connected to climate pollution.
“Climate change and its impact on human health is beyond any doubt. Any policy that refuses to acknowledge this reality is a policy that will doom us all for generations to come.” Dr. Joan H. Schiller, MD, OUCH Int’l Steering Committee Chair and co-founder.
By rescinding EPA’s Endangerment Finding, which eliminates EPA’s requirement to protect people from the pollution that causes climate change the administration is abandoning it’s obligation to protect people's health and the environment.
In 2009, the EPA found that carbon pollution, methane, and four other climate pollutants endanger public health, a finding endorsed by both the Supreme Court and by Congress in the Clean Air Act. By reversing this finding, the administration ignores thousands of scientific studies demonstrating how climate change, fueled by climate pollution, is causing devastating impacts on people’s lives, is increasing cancer rates, and is impairing the success of cancer treatment.
These health risks include the devastating impact climate change has on cancer care. Air pollution, a warming planet, and climate change all contribute to increasing cancer incidence and have major impacts on cancer treatments, outcomes, and access to care. We are bitterly disappointed that the EPA has chosen to rescind the Endangerment Finding without any input from medical oncologists.
As physicians and health care providers, we have a moral obligation to protect our patients from preventable diseases. This is particularly true when it comes to cancer—a disease responsible for about a quarter of all deaths each year in the United States. As cancer doctors, we have seen the pain and suffering that so many patients go through. It is unacceptable for those in power to neglect opportunities to reduce suffering.
Climate change is associated with increased cancer risk through a variety of mechanisms, including increased ultraviolet exposure, risk of exposure to air pollution and toxic chemicals, heat, and reduced access to cancer screening, and most notably through disruption in cancer care itself. |
Climate Change and Cancer Care: A Policy Statement From ASCO
JCO Oncol Practice, 2023 DOI https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.23.00637 |
Our Mission |
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Our mission is to advance awareness, actions, and policies that mitigate the effects of climate change on cancer care.
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Why OUCH- International?
Cancer touches everyone. Even those who are not battling the disease can name a friend or family member suffering from the effects of cancer. As some of society's most trusted messengers, oncology health professionals have a unique voice in being able to raise awareness about the effects of climate change on cancer outcomes and galvanizing decision makers at all levels to act on climate change.
OUCH is the only international non-profit, nonpartisan organization focused on mitigating the effects of climate change on cancer care
OUCH is the only international non-profit, nonpartisan organization focused on mitigating the effects of climate change on cancer care
Our GoalsOur goals are to:
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Our Pillars:
Advocacy Education and outreach Research Cancer care delivery, sustainability, and resilience Climate justice & health equity |
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OUCH-Int'l is committed to promoting actionable steps in climate mitigation, advocacy, and research. This includes:
1. Testimonies before local, state, and federal organizations and legislatures
2. Speaking out in the forms of letters to the editor and policymakers, signing of petitions and letters, speaking at civic engagements, presenting data at educational events
3. Publish articles, editorials, reviews and letter-to-the editor in peer-reviewed journals and society newsletters
4. Advocate for greening of the healthcare system
5. Interacting and advocating with other health or oncology professional societies and organizations
6. Serve as trusted experts to policy makers, legislatures, health care and community organizations, the media, the public, and other stakeholders
7. Serve as examples by promoting personal action
1. Testimonies before local, state, and federal organizations and legislatures
2. Speaking out in the forms of letters to the editor and policymakers, signing of petitions and letters, speaking at civic engagements, presenting data at educational events
3. Publish articles, editorials, reviews and letter-to-the editor in peer-reviewed journals and society newsletters
4. Advocate for greening of the healthcare system
5. Interacting and advocating with other health or oncology professional societies and organizations
6. Serve as trusted experts to policy makers, legislatures, health care and community organizations, the media, the public, and other stakeholders
7. Serve as examples by promoting personal action
Join Us
Do your part to fight health effects of climate change.
We are a community of cancer health care professionals and advocates committed to protecting our patients from the adverse effects of climate change. We welcome all oncology-focused advocates, regardless of geography or speciality, who are aligned with the OUCH - International mission to advance awareness, actions and policies that mitigate the effects of climate change on human health, cancer incidence and outcomes, and health equity. We define an oncology health care professional as any individual or organization who works as a cancer care provider, studies the effects of climate change on cancer, or who advocates on behalf of cancer patients. Sign our Open Letter to policymakers OUCH-Int'l's climate & cancer sign-on.
Please support us by donating and helping us continue to grow and do more.... Donate to OUCH-Int'l.
OUCH-Int'l operates under a Joint Plan of Work with Virginia Organizing, which is a 501(c)3 and accepts tax-deductible financial contributions on our behalf. Virginia Organizing is officially registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209. You can write to this Department for all relevant financial statements and procedures regarding the solicitation of contributions. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
OUCH-Int'l operates under a Joint Plan of Work with Virginia Organizing, which is a 501(c)3 and accepts tax-deductible financial contributions on our behalf. Virginia Organizing is officially registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209. You can write to this Department for all relevant financial statements and procedures regarding the solicitation of contributions. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.