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There are likely mutually reinforcing co-benefits from public action that seeks to integrate climate mitigation and adaption interventions with efforts to strengthen health systems. Given the breadth and overlap of climate-related risk factors, and the complexities in measuring, mitigating, and adapting to the climate crisis, the health sector response needs to be based on evidence that is generated from interdisciplinary research findings. It also needs to go hand in hand with national, regional, and global climate responses and include civil society organizations, private sector actors, and government leaders.
Despite these urgent needs, the current state of the climate and health research field remains critically underdeveloped. Contributing communities are not sufficiently supported to implement meaningful coordinated approaches, foster North-South/South-North collaborations and truly reach the most impacted populations, including equity seeking groups. As a response, Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is supporting research teams across the globe to map available regional evidence and gaps and to help craft pathways towards healthy, equitable, and sustainable health systems and societies.
The proposed session will bring together civil society and research experts from Africa, Asia, and the Americas to share insights into the conducive factors that could lead to climate and health co-benefits in their regions. They will also share their views on priority research and policy agendas and pathways for change at the national, regional, and global levels. These include, for example, the need for stronger responsive data and information systems, resilient health workforce and community responses, climate-resilient infrastructures, and evidence informed social and economic policies that promote health.