Description

Countless reports have warned us of the existential threat climate change poses to all of us. The latest August IPCC Report showed that the last time atmospheric CO2 levels were this high was millions of years ago. Worldwide we are seeing another year of lethal wildfires, water crises and extreme weather conditions.

The central challenge now is to mobilize political will across sectors and internationally to scale up known, effective solutions that  will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate against the effects of climate change. This symposium, The Road to COP27: Climate Change and Health Through Three Lenses, will  include presentations from experts from around the world who will share high impact solutions that will address climate change and improve health outcomes. Leaders from the African continent will share what should be in the COP27 meeting in Africa in 2022. 

Attendees will be able to provide suggestions and ask questions. Solutions from this symposium will be shared publicly and with policymakers including at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in an open access document.

Hosts

Consortium of Universities for Global Health, University of Edinburgh, University of Pittsburgh,  Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Boston College

Agenda & Recordings

Introduction

Speakers: 

  • Introduction: Michele Barry, Director, Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford University
  • Agnes Binagwaho, Former Minister of Health, Rwanda
  • Introduced by: Jonathan Patz, Director, Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin
  • Victor J. Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine
  • Introduced by: Maureen Lichtveld, Dean of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

Session 1- Pragmatic Policy Recommendations for COP26 Part 1: Energy, Transportation, Construction, Agriculture and Manufacturing

Speakers: 

  • Alexander Müller, Director, Think Tank for Sustainability
  • Joy St. John, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
  • Gary Minsavage, Sr. Environmental Health Advisor, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Corporate Strategic Planning
  • Moderator:  Maureen Lichtveld, Dean of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

Session 2 – Pragmatic Policy Recommendations for COP26 Part 2: Green Financing, Nature Based Solutions, Healthy Cities

Speakers:

  • Susan Gardner, Director, Ecosystems Division, United Nations Environment Programme
  • Charles Okeahalam, Chairman, Amref Health Africa
  • Nnoli Edozien Ndidi, Chair, Circular Economy Innovation Partnership 
  • Moderator:  Elizabeth Grant, Assistant Principal (Global Health) and Director of the Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh

Session 3- Agenda Items for COP27 in Africa

Speakers:

  • Laetitia Sieffert, Programme Management Officer, Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Environment Programme
  • Caradee Wright, Senior Specialist Scientist, South African Medical Research Council
  • Deoraj Caussy, Epidemiologist, Integrated Epidemiology Solution
  • Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head, Climate Change and Health Programme, World Health Organization
  • Moderator: Keith Martin, Executive Director, Consortium of Universities for Global Health

Concluding Fireside Chat: Next Steps to Bridging the Policy Implementation Gap

  • Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
  • Moderator: Philip Landrigan, Director, Global Public Health Program and Global Pollution Observatory, Boston College
  • Closing Comments: Keith Martin, Executive Director, Consortium of Universities for Global Health