Sustainability lecture highlights health imperative for climate action

The lecture was chaired by Professor Tolullah Oni, Fellow of Wolfson College and member of the Global Diet and Activity Research Group, the MRC Epidemiology Unit, and the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. Dr Kevin Greenbank, the Vice-President, opened the evening with a welcome address.

In his lecture, Saving Lives: The Health Argument for Urgent Climate Action, Dr Dangour presented a powerful case for understanding climate change as an immediate and unfolding public health crisis. Drawing on evidence from across the globe, he spoke on the growing health impacts of climate change, including deaths associated with extreme weather events, the spread of infectious diseases, threats to food and nutrition security, and increasing pressures on health systems.

You can watch the recording on the Wolfson College YouTube channel.

"Climate change is one of the greatest threats to public health for the foreseeable future.  While technological developments offer some hope, implementing what we already know is a priority. Putting health at the heart of global climate change action, as Alan Dangour and Wellcome are trying to do, should focus minds on the necessary actions. However, we urgently need better leadership from our politicians and policymakers, in particular to tackle the powerful vested interests with much to gain from the status quo."

Professor Simon Griffin, Wolfson Fellow

A central theme of the talk was the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, both within and between countries. Dr Dangour argued that climate change amplifies existing health inequalities, making equity a critical consideration in climate policy and action. He challenged audiences to move beyond viewing climate change through abstract environmental indicators and instead recognise it as a direct threat to human lives and wellbeing.

The lecture also explored the role of the Wellcome Trust in advancing the climate and health agenda. Dr Dangour outlined how the organisation is supporting international research collaborations, funding evidence-based studies on the health impacts of climate change and mitigation strategies, and strengthening partnerships with global organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Through these efforts, Wellcome aims to reframe climate change as a health issue, making its risks more immediate, personal, and relevant to policymakers and the public alike.

"Alan Dangour's lecture did something rare in discussions of climate change. It left the audience feeling hopeful. Alan set out, with clarity and urgency, the profound health risks posed by climate change. Yet he also showed us how researchers, policymakers and communities are already working to address these challenges and reduce their impact. Too often, discussions of climate change leave us feeling overwhelmed. This lecture was different. It was a reminder that while the challenges are immense, so too is our capacity to respond to them."

Dr Kumar Aniket, Wolfson Fellow

The lecture was followed by a lively and engaged question-and-answer session, with audience members exploring topics ranging from climate intervention technologies and food systems to the role of academia in addressing the climate crisis.

"It was wonderful to hear a talk that put human health at the heart of the climate conversation. Dr Dangour provided a compelling overview of the links between climate change, food systems, and health, while balancing the scale of the challenge with examples of hopeful progress. I particularly enjoyed the Q&A session, which sparked thoughtful discussion on topics ranging from climate intervention technologies to the role of academia in addressing the climate crisis."

Sanya Kapoor, MPhil student

The lecture marked a successful launch for what is intended to become an annual forum for exploring the intersection of sustainability, health, and public policy. By placing human health at the centre of the climate conversation, the event underscored both the urgency of the challenge and the opportunities for meaningful action. Dr Steve Hoath, Emeritus Fellow and member of the College's Green Impact team and the Sustainability & Conservation Research Hub, said, "Thank you, Dr Alan Dangour, for sharing insight into urgent action for people and planet with our sustainability and health communities at Wolfson College, Cambridge."

"Thinking about climate change through the lens of health is a powerful way to understand how policy, science and action can combine to make life better immediately, and safer in the future. The Welcome Trust is a critically important voice and funder, so Wolfson did brilliantly to have him along! I admire the energy of the Wolfson Sustainability and Conservation Network and its initiative in setting up such an important annual lecture - and launching it with such distinction."

Jane Lichtenstein, Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG)

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For more information about Wolfson College Research Networks, visit their webpage.