Jon Levy
@jonlevybu.bsky.social
Professor and Chair of Dept of Environmental Health at BU School of Public Health. Focus on indoor and outdoor air, climate change, housing, and environmental justice. Occasional parental musings and the odd dad joke. Once called “Very human, relatable”.
Today is Health Day at #COP30. Unfortunately for many communities every day is health day given a warming climate. But smart climate policies can improve health in the short run while mitigating climate change in the long run. Some thoughts and ideas ⬇️
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
From extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses, climate change is making people sicker and more vulnerable to disease. Health scientists explain what individuals and governments can do about it.
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Today is Health Day at #COP30. Unfortunately for many communities every day is health day given a warming climate. But smart climate policies can improve health in the short run while mitigating climate change in the long run. Some thoughts and ideas ⬇️
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
Reposted by Jon Levy
5 ways to make America healthy again: clean energy; healthy food & farms; clean & active transportation; healthy buildings; & green communities. To learn more, follow these smart docs:
@jonlevybu.bsky.social
@jonathanpatz.bsky.social @howardfrumkin.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@jonlevybu.bsky.social
@jonathanpatz.bsky.social @howardfrumkin.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
From extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses, climate change is making people sicker and more vulnerable to disease. Health scientists explain what individuals and governments can do about it.
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
5 ways to make America healthy again: clean energy; healthy food & farms; clean & active transportation; healthy buildings; & green communities. To learn more, follow these smart docs:
@jonlevybu.bsky.social
@jonathanpatz.bsky.social @howardfrumkin.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@jonlevybu.bsky.social
@jonathanpatz.bsky.social @howardfrumkin.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
Reposted by Jon Levy
The Trump administration wants to rescind a 2009 finding that climate change endangers public health.
Physicians and epidemiologists argue the move ignores mounting evidence linking climate change to heat deaths, epidemics, air pollution and mental health crises.
Physicians and epidemiologists argue the move ignores mounting evidence linking climate change to heat deaths, epidemics, air pollution and mental health crises.
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
From extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses, climate change is making people sicker and more vulnerable to disease. Health scientists explain what individuals and governments can do about it.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
The Trump administration wants to rescind a 2009 finding that climate change endangers public health.
Physicians and epidemiologists argue the move ignores mounting evidence linking climate change to heat deaths, epidemics, air pollution and mental health crises.
Physicians and epidemiologists argue the move ignores mounting evidence linking climate change to heat deaths, epidemics, air pollution and mental health crises.
Reposted by Jon Levy
During #COP30 it is important to remember that climate policy is health policy, and that climate action is needed to improve health. Some background information in a new commentary by me, @jonathanpatz.bsky.social, @howardfrumkin.bsky.social, and Vijay Limaye.
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
From extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses, climate change is making people sicker and more vulnerable to disease. Health scientists explain what individuals and governments can do about it.
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
During #COP30 it is important to remember that climate policy is health policy, and that climate action is needed to improve health. Some background information in a new commentary by me, @jonathanpatz.bsky.social, @howardfrumkin.bsky.social, and Vijay Limaye.
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
During #COP30 it is important to remember that climate policy is health policy, and that climate action is needed to improve health. Some background information in a new commentary by me, @jonathanpatz.bsky.social, @howardfrumkin.bsky.social, and Vijay Limaye.
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
From extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses, climate change is making people sicker and more vulnerable to disease. Health scientists explain what individuals and governments can do about it.
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
During #COP30 it is important to remember that climate policy is health policy, and that climate action is needed to improve health. Some background information in a new commentary by me, @jonathanpatz.bsky.social, @howardfrumkin.bsky.social, and Vijay Limaye.
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
theconversation.com/want-to-make...
So proud of Selene Vences, PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health at @busph.bsky.social! She is an amazing researcher and a passionate public health advocate who will go far…
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
PhD Student Named RWJF Health Policy Research Scholar
Selene Vences, a PhD student in environmental health, has been selected to the ninth cohort of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars Program, a four-year leadership develo...
www.bu.edu
November 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
So proud of Selene Vences, PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health at @busph.bsky.social! She is an amazing researcher and a passionate public health advocate who will go far…
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
This line says it all - “At 99 percent of U.S. coal plants—209 out of 210—it would be cheaper to replace energy with new wind and solar than to keep them operating, a 2023 Energy Innovation analysis found.”
So this is a policy to raise electricity prices, while also harming health. Well played.
So this is a policy to raise electricity prices, while also harming health. Well played.
So.Very. Stupid.
Honestly, someone should start an awards program for the worst government policies of the year. This one would certainly be a strong contender in the federal policy category.
Honestly, someone should start an awards program for the worst government policies of the year. This one would certainly be a strong contender in the federal policy category.
‘Burning Money:’ Dept. of Energy Directs $100 Million to Modernize Declining Coal Plants - Inside Climate News
The funding represents Trump’s latest attempt at coal revitalization, but updating the nation’s aging facilities would cost billions, experts say.
insideclimatenews.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:22 AM
This line says it all - “At 99 percent of U.S. coal plants—209 out of 210—it would be cheaper to replace energy with new wind and solar than to keep them operating, a 2023 Energy Innovation analysis found.”
So this is a policy to raise electricity prices, while also harming health. Well played.
So this is a policy to raise electricity prices, while also harming health. Well played.
What a lede - “The Trump administration is making $100 million available for existing coal plants to help make them profitable”.
So we are subsidizing an industry with large externalities (climate, health, etc.) to help it compete with clean energy? Make it make sense…
So we are subsidizing an industry with large externalities (climate, health, etc.) to help it compete with clean energy? Make it make sense…
November 3, 2025 at 11:19 PM
What a lede - “The Trump administration is making $100 million available for existing coal plants to help make them profitable”.
So we are subsidizing an industry with large externalities (climate, health, etc.) to help it compete with clean energy? Make it make sense…
So we are subsidizing an industry with large externalities (climate, health, etc.) to help it compete with clean energy? Make it make sense…
This is like a mile from where I grew up, so it hits a little harder. Evanston is an amazing community where people will stand up for their neighbors. Don’t mess with E-town.
Video taken by Jay Shefsky at 12:20 p.m. after the crash happened, Oakton Street/Asbury Avenue in Evanston, IL
October 31, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This is like a mile from where I grew up, so it hits a little harder. Evanston is an amazing community where people will stand up for their neighbors. Don’t mess with E-town.
Let me save the CDC some time. Wind farms don’t harm health. On the other hand, fossil fuels do harm health.
Don’t suppose CDC will be looking at coal, oil, or natural gas as part of this “study”?
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
Don’t suppose CDC will be looking at coal, oil, or natural gas as part of this “study”?
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
RFK Jr. Orders CDC to Study Alleged Harms of Offshore Wind Farms
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to probe the potential harms of offshore wind fa…
financialpost.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Let me save the CDC some time. Wind farms don’t harm health. On the other hand, fossil fuels do harm health.
Don’t suppose CDC will be looking at coal, oil, or natural gas as part of this “study”?
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
Don’t suppose CDC will be looking at coal, oil, or natural gas as part of this “study”?
financialpost.com/pmn/business...
Reposted by Jon Levy
The US Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, formerly maintained by NOAA, has a new home at @climatecentral.org, with the latest available data through June 2025. Explore the data:
Now at Climate Central: U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters | Climate Central
Climate Central is restarting this publicly accessible database that shines a light on the rising toll of weather and climate disasters.
buff.ly
October 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The US Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, formerly maintained by NOAA, has a new home at @climatecentral.org, with the latest available data through June 2025. Explore the data:
Pros of wind power: increased reliability, lower electricity costs, green jobs, less air pollution, less climate change, better health
Cons: Something about drone attacks? Views from golf courses?
Attacks on wind energy don’t make sense. Our thoughts:
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/08/m...
Cons: Something about drone attacks? Views from golf courses?
Attacks on wind energy don’t make sense. Our thoughts:
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/08/m...
Restarting Revolution Wind is good for our health as well as the climate - The Boston Globe
Investing in clean sources of electricity helps address climate change. It also leads to local and regional health benefits, write two Boston University professors of environmental health.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Pros of wind power: increased reliability, lower electricity costs, green jobs, less air pollution, less climate change, better health
Cons: Something about drone attacks? Views from golf courses?
Attacks on wind energy don’t make sense. Our thoughts:
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/08/m...
Cons: Something about drone attacks? Views from golf courses?
Attacks on wind energy don’t make sense. Our thoughts:
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/08/m...
The Trump administration wants to repeal the 2009 "Endangerment Finding", arguing that greenhouse gases don't actually harm health and well-being. A group of 100+ experts reviewed the literature and disagrees. We brought the receipts (400+ references). Full comment at zenodo.org/records/1728...
Expert Working Group on Climate Change and Health in the United States Comment on EPA's Proposed Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding
zenodo.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The Trump administration wants to repeal the 2009 "Endangerment Finding", arguing that greenhouse gases don't actually harm health and well-being. A group of 100+ experts reviewed the literature and disagrees. We brought the receipts (400+ references). Full comment at zenodo.org/records/1728...
Reposted by Jon Levy
Proud to be part of the Expert Working Group on Climate Change and Health that just put together a report summarizing the evidence of health harms of climate change to date. Report is here: zenodo.org/records/1728... 🛟 #climatesky
Expert Working Group on Climate Change and Health in the United States Comment on EPA's Proposed Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding
zenodo.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Proud to be part of the Expert Working Group on Climate Change and Health that just put together a report summarizing the evidence of health harms of climate change to date. Report is here: zenodo.org/records/1728... 🛟 #climatesky
Reposted by Jon Levy
Earlier this year, Dr. Jane Goodall sat down for an interview for Brad Falchuk’s new Netflix series, Famous Last Words.
The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
October 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Earlier this year, Dr. Jane Goodall sat down for an interview for Brad Falchuk’s new Netflix series, Famous Last Words.
The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
Reposted by Jon Levy
Cumulative impact assessment is the process of identifying and assessing the environmental impacts of multiple proposed projects.
Learn about our new report advising how to advance the science and practice behind cumulative impact assessment at our October 9 webinar: https://ow.ly/rsOf50X4uwA
Learn about our new report advising how to advance the science and practice behind cumulative impact assessment at our October 9 webinar: https://ow.ly/rsOf50X4uwA
October 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Cumulative impact assessment is the process of identifying and assessing the environmental impacts of multiple proposed projects.
Learn about our new report advising how to advance the science and practice behind cumulative impact assessment at our October 9 webinar: https://ow.ly/rsOf50X4uwA
Learn about our new report advising how to advance the science and practice behind cumulative impact assessment at our October 9 webinar: https://ow.ly/rsOf50X4uwA
There are many things wrong with this idea, including:
1) Universities aren’t people. I may or may not believe what university leadership believes.
2) Research (at least for health) should be judged on whether it has good ideas for making people healthier. Less merit means worse health.
1) Universities aren’t people. I may or may not believe what university leadership believes.
2) Research (at least for health) should be judged on whether it has good ideas for making people healthier. Less merit means worse health.
Awarding scientific grants based on scientific merit? That pales in comparison to my strategy, giving grants based on political loyalty
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
September 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
There are many things wrong with this idea, including:
1) Universities aren’t people. I may or may not believe what university leadership believes.
2) Research (at least for health) should be judged on whether it has good ideas for making people healthier. Less merit means worse health.
1) Universities aren’t people. I may or may not believe what university leadership believes.
2) Research (at least for health) should be judged on whether it has good ideas for making people healthier. Less merit means worse health.
Our new publication from @busph.bsky.social shows that machine learning models can be used to explain aircraft contributions to ultrafine particle air pollution near airports.
And it was co-authored by new @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social champion Prasad Patil!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
And it was co-authored by new @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social champion Prasad Patil!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Quantifying Aviation-Related Contributions to Ambient Ultrafine Particle Number Concentrations Using Interpretable Machine Learning
Ultrafine particles (UFP, Dp < 100 nm) are abundantly emitted by aircraft, but quantifying their contributions to ambient particle number concentrations (PNC) is challenging due to confounding from lo...
pubs.acs.org
September 27, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Our new publication from @busph.bsky.social shows that machine learning models can be used to explain aircraft contributions to ultrafine particle air pollution near airports.
And it was co-authored by new @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social champion Prasad Patil!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
And it was co-authored by new @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social champion Prasad Patil!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Reposted by Jon Levy
"... Zeldin intends to sign off next week on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so-called endangerment finding and Biden-era climate rules for cars and trucks... before agency staff have time to sift through all public comments...." subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: Internal docs: Zeldin races ahead without analysis in endangerment rollback
The EPA administrator plans to sign off on the repeal's policy and legal justifications before his staff finishes the regulatory impact analysis.
subscriber.politicopro.com
September 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
"... Zeldin intends to sign off next week on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so-called endangerment finding and Biden-era climate rules for cars and trucks... before agency staff have time to sift through all public comments...." subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
Reposted by Jon Levy
Can't publish science without political approval, what could go wrong
[🎁]
[🎁]
EPA tells scientists to stop publishing studies, employees say
Staff from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting this week and told to pause the publication of most research, pending a review.
wapo.st
September 20, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Can't publish science without political approval, what could go wrong
[🎁]
[🎁]
Reposted by Jon Levy
Excellent coverage of our study out today on climate impacts on wildfire smoke and related health impacts.
It's not your imagination: Wildfire smoke in the U.S. has dramatically worsened since 2019. According to a new study, it's already killing 41,000 people a year - and it's poised to get much worse.
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
new from me @johnmuyskens.bsky.social and @sadbumblebee.buzz
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Record wildfire smoke kills more people each year than car crashes. It’s about to get worse.
The past six summers have been the smokiest on record. New research shows that smoke could become the costliest consequence of climate change for Americans.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Excellent coverage of our study out today on climate impacts on wildfire smoke and related health impacts.
Reposted by Jon Levy
The EPA cancelled grants that would help us understand how children are affected by climate change.
The agency response: Maybe Biden and Harris "shouldn’t have forced their radical agenda of wasteful DEI programs and ‘environmental justice.'"
19thnews.org/2025/09/epa-...
The agency response: Maybe Biden and Harris "shouldn’t have forced their radical agenda of wasteful DEI programs and ‘environmental justice.'"
19thnews.org/2025/09/epa-...
In a single email, the EPA ended her research into how climate change endangers children
Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health, but as climate threats continue to rise, the Trump administration cancelled her work.
19thnews.org
September 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The EPA cancelled grants that would help us understand how children are affected by climate change.
The agency response: Maybe Biden and Harris "shouldn’t have forced their radical agenda of wasteful DEI programs and ‘environmental justice.'"
19thnews.org/2025/09/epa-...
The agency response: Maybe Biden and Harris "shouldn’t have forced their radical agenda of wasteful DEI programs and ‘environmental justice.'"
19thnews.org/2025/09/epa-...
The assault on wind is very similar to the assault on vaccines - ginning up evidence to support a desired policy that harms public health. Offshore wind is good for climate, air quality, and overall grid reliability.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/c...
White House Orders Agencies to Escalate Fight Against Offshore Wind
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The assault on wind is very similar to the assault on vaccines - ginning up evidence to support a desired policy that harms public health. Offshore wind is good for climate, air quality, and overall grid reliability.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/c...
Reposted by Jon Levy
@citizencohn.bsky.social shares some of my story and the work that I have done on public health with thousands of scientists and implementers. We ended outbreak after outbreak TOGETHER. Many of those outbreaks occurred because of RFK Jr’s rhetoric. www.thebulwark.com/p/kennedy-rf...
This Is What—and Who—We’re Losing in RFK’s Purge
The story of one scientist, a career in public health, and the crisis at the CDC.
www.thebulwark.com
August 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
@citizencohn.bsky.social shares some of my story and the work that I have done on public health with thousands of scientists and implementers. We ended outbreak after outbreak TOGETHER. Many of those outbreaks occurred because of RFK Jr’s rhetoric. www.thebulwark.com/p/kennedy-rf...
The institutions that protect our health and safety - CDC, EPA, etc. - are being deliberately destroyed in a manner that will be hard to undo.
Whether this is to boost favored industries, pandemic backlash, or because ideology trumps evidence, the outcome is the same. We will be less healthy.
Whether this is to boost favored industries, pandemic backlash, or because ideology trumps evidence, the outcome is the same. We will be less healthy.
August 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The institutions that protect our health and safety - CDC, EPA, etc. - are being deliberately destroyed in a manner that will be hard to undo.
Whether this is to boost favored industries, pandemic backlash, or because ideology trumps evidence, the outcome is the same. We will be less healthy.
Whether this is to boost favored industries, pandemic backlash, or because ideology trumps evidence, the outcome is the same. We will be less healthy.