Climate Conferences Continue | 11/5

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Deep dive: Climate Conferences Continue

This week join us in reflecting on the transformative, inaugural Climate and Health 2023 Conference held on October 21-22 at Zucker School at Hofstra/Northwell, where thought leaders converged to confront the nexus of climate change and health.
Key insights were shared from Ed Maibach’s recent study, showcasing a glaring gap in public awareness with just 3% of Americans linking global warming to severe health risks. This underscores an urgent call to demystify the health perils nested within the climate crisis.

In a powerful keynote address, Nalleli Cobo, a Goldman Environmental Prize laureate, shared her victorious journey of community-driven change, underscoring the power of grassroots advocacy in steering health and environmental reforms. Dive into her inspiring story here.

On the other side of the country, the annual HLTH conference brought together a notable gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to converge, share ideas, and forecast the trajectory of healthcare tech. For the first time, the October 2023 event introduced climate consciousness within the healthcare tech dialogue. 

The Dean of Stanford Medicine, Lloyd Minor along with the Chief Program Officer of UNICEF, Darla Silva were interviewed by physician journalist, Leanna Wen, on the opportunities and responsibility for healthcare and global organizations to address the health impacts of climate change as well as their responsibility to mitigate their contributions to the problem. In a more focused conversation, the Techquity for health coalition invited CHILL member, Chethan Sarabu, to share a vision for the framing of climate health as an equity challenge with the opportunity for tech to help. While this was just a small stage to elevate awareness around climate and health, these initial seeds may ripple out to bring the climate and health conversation to center stage. 


#ClimateHealth2023 inaugural event serves as a collective awakening to the intertwined fate of our health and the environment, spotlighting the imperative for a united front of health experts, climate and health innovators, and policy shapers to fortify our approach against the dual threats we face.

Other news

  • In its annual State of Climate Services report, the World Meteorological Organization warned that the climate crisis was generating a global health crisis and said that many ill effects of climate change could be tempered by adaptation and prevention measures. (WMO)

  • Many of us are feeling a sense of powerlessness and despair over climate change and its harmful effects. Psychedelic therapy may help. (Washington Post)

  • Climate labels similar to cigarette packet warnings could cut meat consumption, a research team out of Durham University found. (The Conversation)

  • Drs. Lisa Patel and Linda Rudolph discuss how the Farm Bill can be leveraged to promote environmental sustainability, improve public health, and foster social equity. (NEJM)

  • The report "Mental Health & Our Changing Climate: Children and Youth 2023," co-authored with #GenZ advisor Aishah-Nyeta Brown and released by ecoAmerica and the APA, addresses the impact of climate change on youth mental health. (EcoAmerica)

  • Redvers et al.'s October 2023 study examines the global climate-health interface for Indigenous Peoples, highlighting the role of traditional knowledge in addressing climate change and its effects on health. (EcoAmerica)

  • HHS has launched the Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge, offering $1 million in funding to empower local innovators to develop and test solutions for environmental justice and health equity issues, with submissions now open. (HHS)

Events & opportunities

  • NorCal Symposium on Climate, Health, Equity, Virtual, Nov 8 (Link)

  • MATTER Health Equity Quest: Climate Change and Health Symposium, Virtual and in person (Chicago), Nov 8 (Link)

  • 2023 Lancet Countdown Report Launch, Virtual, Nov 15 (Link)

  • Fossil Fuel Pollution and Climate Change hosted by NEJM, Virtual, Nov 16 (Link)

  • Practice GreenHealth How-to Guidance for Conducting a GHG Inventory Series, Scope 1, Virtual, Nov 16 (Link)

  • Information Session: A New Catalytic Program on Utilizing the IRA, Nov 30 1(Link)

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