Why Environmentalists Need to Support Bills That Advance Reproductive Health
Written by Syd Cole and Kelley Dennings
The attacks on reproductive rights didn’t end a year ago when Roe v. Wade was overturned. We’re currently facing a global assault to undermine access to abortion, contraception, sex education, gender-affirming care, and the rights of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.
But it’s not a one-sided fight. A lot of positive reproductive health legislation was introduced in the most recent congressional session, and more will be introduced soon. These bills aim to restore the right to safe, legal abortion, ensure access to contraception and protect pregnant people from climate-related threats.
Reproductive health is an environmental issue because the health of people and the health of ecosystems are inextricably linked — and they’re both threatened by the same systems of abuse and exploitation. When we advance reproductive health, rights, and justice and gender equity, we improve the well-being of people and the planet.
For example, when women have access to healthcare, education and economic opportunity, they tend to delay having children, have fewer and healthier children, and be more likely to manage their reproductive health actively. Educated women and girls earn higher wages and are able to be more involved in sustainability efforts, leading to better outcomes for their communities and for conservation.
Together we have the tools to tip the scales toward reproductive freedom and justice. Below you’ll find the current reproductive health legislation that every environmentalist should pay attention to, as well as links to help you take action.
The 2023 Affordability Is Access Act:
This act ensures health insurance providers cover all FDA approved or regulated contraception for routine use without a prescription. It also maintains the FDA’s sole authority to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs and make them available without a prescription and requires retailers to provide contraception without a prescription. Under this law retailers would not be able to interfere with a consumer’s access to or purchase of such contraception.
The 2023 Global HER Act:
The Global HER Act would permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule, which restricts foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. global health assistance from providing, counseling, referring, or advocating for abortion services.
The 2023 Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act:
This Act would create a federal grant program to invest in community-based efforts to mitigate exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and other climate risks that pose a threat to pregnant and postpartum people and their infants. The Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act is a part of the larger Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.
Take action: Call your representative and senator and express your support for the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act.
The 2023 Real Education for Healthy Youth Act:
The Real Education for Healthy Youth Act would fund sex ed teacher training and provide grants for comprehensive sex education to groups that focus on adolescent health. In addition REHYA would require, rather than merely encourage, inclusiveness of LGBTQ+ youth in the funded sex education programs and would prohibit federal funding of programs that are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
The 2023 Right to Contraception Act:
This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual’s right to access — and a healthcare provider’s right to provide — contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives, fertility-awareness based methods and sterilization procedures.
Take action: Call your representative and senator and express your support for the Right to Contraception Act.
The 2023 Women’s Health Protection Act:
Seeking to establish a statutory right for healthcare providers to offer abortions and for people to receive them, the Women’s Health Protection Act would counteract the impact of restrictive state laws. The Act would end mandatory waiting periods before abortions, targeted regulations on abortion providers (TRAP laws), restrictions on medical abortion, and bans on certain types of abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Learn more about the Center’s work at this intersection of gender, reproductive health, environmental harm and climate change through two of our groundbreaking reports: Gender and the Climate Crisis: Equitable Solutions for Climate Plans and The Influence of Environmental Toxicity, Inequity and Capitalism on Reproductive Health.
Last updated June 20, 2023
