Climate change represents one of the most significant threats to human health in the 21st century. The Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity (Climate Grand Challenge) is a multi-year global initiative to improve and protect human health, well-being, and equity by working to transform systems that both contribute to and are impacted by climate change.
The Climate Grand Challenge has five strategic objectives:
Communicate the climate crisis as a public health and equity crisis
Develop a roadmap for systems transformation
Catalyze the health sector to reduce its climate footprint and ensure its resilience
Accelerate research and innovation at the intersection of climate, health, and equity
Reduce climate-related health inequities
Climate Communities Network
An initiative that will bring together community leaders in U.S. regions disproportionately impacted by climate change to work collaboratively on solutions to climate-related health inequities faced by their communities
Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector
A public-private partnership of leaders from across the health system committed to addressing the sector’s environmental impact while strengthening its sustainability and resilience
Featured Resources
As COP28 hosts its first ever Health Day, NAM President Victor Dzau attends this seminal event alongside those engaged with the NAM Climate Grand Challenge to help emphasize the interconnectedness of climate and health as essential to creating a sustainable and resilient future. In lead up to this global event, the NAM convened a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C., “Countdown to COP28,” to highlight priorities for U.S. health at COP.
In recognition of Earth Day 2023, the NAM invited future health professionals to share their visions for how the health sector can address climate change and its impact on human health. We look forward to continuing to work with students and others across the health sector and beyond to address the health impacts of climate change through our Climate Grand Challenge.
Learn about the viewpoints of students who are committed to addressing climate change >>
Featuring the Climate Grand Challenge at the NAM Annual Meeting
The 2021 NAM Annual Meeting on Crossing the Policy and Equity Chasm: Lessons from Compounding Health Crises featured rousing discussions around climate change and human health. One of the scientific symposium’s panels focused on actionable policy in climate change and human health. We were also pleased to welcome remarks from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, and Gina McCarthy, the National Climate Advisor.
In addition, Victor Dzau, president of the NAM, hosted a forum spotlighting the Climate Grand Challenge and the focus on the imperative of the health sector to work together to address climate change impacts on health in order to build a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient society.
Read Dr. Dzau’s 2021 president’s address to NAM members >>
At the 50th Annual Meeting on October 19, 2020, Dr. Dzau announced the Climate Grand Challenge.
Catalyzing Innovative Projects at the Interface of Human Health and Climate Change: Opportunity Grants
On December 5-6, 2019, the National Academies hosted an expert meeting to present the latest science and new opportunities for research and investment at the intersection of climate change and human health. Co-funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), the meeting was designed to inform programmatic directions for the NAM and the National Academies. The NAM partnered with the BWF to provide funding for “opportunity grants” to interdisciplinary teams across the National Academies to explore promising ideas at the intersection of climate change and human health. The aim is to stimulate new, interdisciplinary projects across the National Academies, as well as to catalyze broader stakeholder interest and engagement in these issues. Grantees will be conducting their project development activities through November 2020 and will prepare a summary of outputs, impacts, outcomes, and next steps in December.
Learn about the projects funded by the Climate Change & Human Health Opportunity Grants >>
Related Resources
- Climate at the National Academies (resource hub)
- Environmental Health Matters Initiative (resource hub)
- COP28 Global Climate Conference Features Several National Academies Representatives (2023 feature story)
- National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative is combating climate change with Victor Dzau, MD (2023 podcast episode)
- Accelerating Action to Decarbonize Healthcare in the U.S. (2023 article)
- NAM President Victor Dzau Discusses Critical Link Between Health and Climate at World Economic Forum (2023 press release)
- A Message from the Presidents of the U.S. National Academies as COP27 Begins in Egypt (2022 presidents’ message)
- COP26 Presents Historic Opportunity for a More Sustainable Future, Says Victor Dzau and Presidents of National Academies (2021 presidents’ statement)
- Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action (monthly webinar series)
- AAAS Annual Meeting – Victor Dzau highlight video (2022 event)
- Climate Conversations: Decarbonizing the Health Sector (2021 webinar)
- A Conversation on Climate Resilience in the Health Care System (2021 webinar)
- America’s Climate Choices (consensus report series)
- Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity (2022 proceedings of a workshop–in brief)
- Deployment of Deep Decarbonization Technologies (2019 workshop proceedings)
- Protecting the Health and Well-Being of Communities in a Changing Climate (2018 workshop proceedings)
- Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters (2015 consensus report)
- Modeling the Health Risks of Climate Change (2015 workshop summary)
- The Nexus of Biofuels, Climate Change, and Human Health (2014 workshop summary)
- Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health (2011 consensus report)
Staff
Chris Hanley, Senior Program Officer
Franque Alexander, Program Specialist
Funmi Chinekezi, Program Officer
Emma Lower-McSherry, Research Associate
Jessica Marx, Program Officer
Justin Massey, Associate Program Officer
Grace Robbins, Associate Program Officer
Samantha Phillips, Communications Officer
Sponsors
AdvaMed
AmerisourceBergen
Association of Academic Health Centers
Association of American Medical Colleges
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Commonwealth Fund
Eastbay Foundation
Grantham Foundation
Henry Schein
JPB Foundation
Mazzetti
McCall MacBain Foundation
McKesson
Medtronic
National League for Nursing
PhRMA
Rockefeller Foundation
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance
Thermo Fisher Scientific
UnitedHealth Group
University of Southern California
Vizient
