Catz Professor attends Global Climate and Health Summit
St Catherine’s College is pleased to share that Professor Heidi de Wet, Catz Tutorial Fellow for Medicine, recently attended the Global Climate and Health Summit in London, where some startling findings about the topical global challenges of air pollution, sustainable nutrition, and heat were reported. Professor de Wet attended as a representative of the Physiological Society’s Policy committee.
The hybrid event attracted important keynote speakers across these disciplines. Among these attendees was Sir Jeremy Farrar, the newly- appointed Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organisation (WHO). His address emphasised the vital role of dynamic physiological research in shaping global health policy, and highlighted that scientific discovery grounded in human physiology is crucial for developing interventions which remain safe and effective across varied communities. According to Professor de Wet, “his presence and willingness to speak at the event underscored the WHO’s recognition of climate change and health as a global public health emergency.” Other notable attendees included the Honourable Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Childcare (pictured above), who discussed the Harare Declaration on Climate and Health in Africa. Professor de Wet was notably inspired by the active role taken by African leaders in tackling this very important issue, which is already impacting the health and security of millions across the globe.
Some of the sobering facts highlighted in the conference include:
• Air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature annual deaths
• 99% of the global population breathes unsafe air, by the WHO’s standards
• Heat-related deaths in older adults has increased by 85% in the last 20 years
• In the UK, poor diets cost an estimated £286 billion annually across health, care, and indirect services
Workshops held on the second day of the Summit enabled hybrid participants to collaborate across sectors to plumb real-world challenges, reinforcing the exponential importance of dialogue and interdisciplinary approaches to global health and climate resilience. Professor de Wet added: “These sessions encouraged rich, cross-disciplinary engagement, allowing participants to contribute, reflect, and stress-test ideas in a truly collaborative environment.”
Professor de Wet comments: “This Summit was designed to be interactive, inclusive, and action-focused […] The Summit brought together an extraordinary mix of researchers, policymakers, funders, economists, and changemakers, all sharing insights and ideas that reinforce the need for collaborative, context-specific responses that place human physiology and resilience at the heart of climate and health solutions.”
Professor de Wet encourages all early-career researchers interested in the role of physiology in climate and health the Physiological Society’s Climate and Physiological Resilience Network.
To read Professor de Wet’s report in full, please navigate to the departmental landing page.