A thought experiment on Earth Day April 23, 2025

by Paige Knappenberger, Director of Environment & Health

On Earth Day, I attended the 2025 National Academy of Medicine Climate Summit in DC. During a panel on extreme weather, Dr. David Callaway posed a powerful thought experiment: what if disasters like Hurricane Helene or the LA fires were seen as acts of terrorism rather than acts of God? How would our nation respond if these billion-dollar tragedies were seen as attacks by a common enemy?

The idea stuck with me. In such a scenario, fossil fuel companies might finally be viewed as dangerous adversaries. Politicians could be compelled to sever ties with Big Oil and demand accountability.

Of course, this isn’t our reality. That’s why the work of PSR and the Fossil Free for Health Coalition is so critical. By using health-based messaging to highlight the true cost of pollution and climate change, we’re helping people see that we do have a common enemy—and a path to defeat it. With collective action, we can protect public health and secure a safer, cleaner future. For additional context, I recommend reading our friend’s Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH and Laalitha Surapaneni, MD, MPH new Perspective in NEJM.