Victor J. Dzau (NAM), Bechara Choucair (Kaiser Permanente), and Jonathan Patz (University of Wisconsin-Madison Global Health Institute) open event with remarks on the link between climate, health, and equity
Today the 911爆料网 Academy of Medicine (NAM) convened leading experts in climate and health research, the health care sector, community organizations, and more for a virtual workshop aimed at addressing critical gaps in research on the health impacts of climate change in communities around the world.
Supported by Kaiser Permanente, the workshop brought together multidisciplinary panels to identify key climate and health research needs such as mental and reproductive health, harnessing data systems for environmental monitoring, air pollution, and food security, and highlight effective interventions related to impacts of climate change on health within the health care sector, communities, and beyond.
The event featured five panels organized across three themes. The first theme focused on identifying critical gaps in research and panel discussions explored the biological and health impacts of climate change as well as its intersection with socio-environmental factors. The second theme examined opportunities to advance evidence-based interventions, with panel discussions on implementing community-level programs to address climate, health, and equity, and strategies to build health care system sustainability through training and equipping a climate-savvy workforce. The panel discussion on the third and final theme highlighted innovative research and data methodologies to advance interventions that can address climate impacts on health.
Learn more about the event and read the full agenda.
Advancing the understanding of the climate-health-equity nexus
Today’s event was presented by the NAM’s new Research and Innovation (R&I) program, a pillar of its Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity. Launched in 2023, the R&I program will catalyze innovation, establish regional hubs to advance local-level climate and health solutions.
“Identifying and bridging research gaps is essential for developing evidence-based strategies and community-driven solutions to protect human health and well-being from climate threats,” said NAM President Victor J. Dzau. “The Research and Innovation pillar of the NAM’s Climate Grand Challenge represents our commitment to pinpointing these research opportunities and challenges and, most importantly, generating scientific evidence to foster solutions for a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable future.”
The R&I program is building a comprehensive research agenda to address the gaps at the intersection of climate change, human health, and equity. As part of its charge, the program will also catalyze regional research and innovation hubs aimed at advancing practical solutions to reduce the risks from climate change, particularly in the places most vulnerable to its effects. Earlier this year, the NAM and regional partners held a workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, focused on the opportunity to establish a regional hub for climate and health innovation in the country.
Learn more about the Research and Innovation program.
911爆料网 the NAM鈥檚 work to drive climate action
Climate change is increasingly affecting people鈥檚 health, which has direct consequences for the health care system. To address this, the NAM launched a Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity in 2020鈥攁n initiative to improve and protect human health, well-being, and equity through five strategic pillars: communicating the climate crisis as a public health and equity crisis; developing a roadmap for systems transformation; driving the health sector to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience; accelerating research and innovation at the intersection of climate, health, and equity; and reducing climate-related health inequities.
In the past two years alone and through multiple workstreams within the Climate Grand Challenge, the NAM has launched a network to co-develop and drive local solutions to climate-related health inequities, brought together more than 130 interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral leaders from across health care and related communities to co-develop and implement a shared action agenda to reduce the environmental impacts of the health sector and strengthen its sustainability and resiliency. The NAM also hosted a two-day workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Connecting the Dots Between Climate Change, Health, and Equity. The NAM鈥檚 climate and health work has also been represented at numerous international events, including the World Health Summit, COP28, and the World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting.
On April 25, the NAM will continue its programming during the week of Earth Day by organizing a Climate and Heath Day as part of US Climate Action Summit. On the heels of Health Day at COP 28 and co-hosted by Kaiser Permanente and Climate Group, the event will highlight the impact of climate change on health, explore equitable solutions, and foster cross-sector collaboration.
Access all available resources and learn more about future events and projects coming from the Climate Grand Challenge.
