Interdisciplinary Expert Centre for Climate Change and Health (IECCCH)
Background
Human-induced climate change is considered proven. Climate change and human health are closely linked. Current changes in climate conditions are expected to affect human health worldwide in a variety of ways, such as :
- by an increasing thermal load in the summer months
- by a change in the occurrence of pollen in terms of duration of the pollen seasons and allergenicity,
- mental health problems associated with extreme weather events.
Climate change may also have other complex effects. For example, climate change is altering conditions for zoonotic disease pathogens and vectors (Leal Filho et al 2022). Signs of this include the increasing spread of West Nile and Usutu viruses and the establishment of new vector species, such as certain mosquito and tick species, in Europe and other parts of the world. These changes bring new challenges to maintaining the health of humans, as well as animals.
The link between climate change and health also places a burden on the health systems of developing countries (Leal Filho et al 2016), particularly in regions such as Africa. Across the African continent, public health systems are under severe pressure, in part due to weak socioeconomic conditions (Opoku, Leal Filho, Hubert, Adejumo, 2021). Climate change-related issues also pose a challenge to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3 (health and well-being) (Leal Filho et al 2020).
There are many scientists working on the topic of climate change and health, but there are only a few research centres that systematically address the topic The knowledge gap can be a problem as we may not be prepared for future events. Therefore, there is a need for a research structure dedicated to the study of climatic, medical, and epidemiological aspects - including zoonoses and tropical diseases - related to climate change in order to generate an increase in the knowledge of the consequences of climatic changes for health, that may serve to develop policies and support appropriate adaptation measures. It is against this background, that the Interdisciplinary Expert Centre for Climate Change and Health has been founded.
Current events and news
August 2023: New Open Access Paper: Climate change and malaria: some recent trends of malaria incidence rates and average annual temperature in selected sub-Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2018",Malaria Journal. The article is available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-023-04682-4
References
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Leal Filho, W. et al. (2016) (Ed) Climate Change and Health. Springer, Cham
Leal Filho, W. et al. (2020) (Ed) Good Health and Well Being. Springer, Cham
Opoku, S.K.; Leal Filho, W.; Hubert, F.; Adejumo, O. (2021) Climate Change and Health Preparedness in Africa: Analysing Trends in Six African Countries. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 4672. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094672.
Leal Filho, W.; Ternova, L.; Parasnis, S.A.; Kovaleva, M.; Nagy, G.J. (2022) Climate Change and Zoonoses: A Review of Concepts, Definitions, and Bibliometrics. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 893. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020893.
Goals of the Interdisciplinary Expert Centre for Climate Change and Health (IECCCH)
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The mission of IECCCH is:
To conduct research projects, organize professional events, and produce scientific publications that can improve the overall understanding of the relationship between climate change and health.
The centre will also contribute to the elaboration of climate change and health issues in courses (BSc, MSc) and Ph.D. programmes, so that future health professionals are informed and sensitized about them. The aim is to create a research centre with a national and international reputation that can help meet the global challenge of addressing the many health threats and problems associated with climate change. To this end, close collaboration will be sought with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and various national and international institutions. concerned with climate change and health.
IECCCH is coordinated by the Chair of Climate Change Management and Health at HAW Hamburg, which was established in 2013 and is the first of its kind in Germany. It will work together with various national and international partners, to create a solid scientific basis for the execution of a wide range of projects.
Key areas
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IECCCH works in 4 key areas:
- Area 1: Research projects on the links between climate change and health, including those as part of doctoral studies
- Area 2: Organisation of professional and capacity-building events on this topic
- Area 3: Elaboration of materials for the inclusion of issues related to climate change and health in the teaching programmes and training of BSc and MSc students, in order to inform and raise awareness among future health professionals.
- Area 4: Collaborative publication of research findings in scientific journals.
IECCCH will also provide policy-advice to government agencies, and support studies leading to policy-relevant recommendations. The aim is to foster international collaboration that can contribute towards meeting the global challenge of addressing the many health threats and problems associated with climate change, in support of policy-making and towards world peace. To this end, close collaboration will also be sought with various national and international institutions working on climate change and health (see “Partners”).
Partners
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Some of the cooperating partners of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change and Health are:
• Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health, Asian University for Women, Bangladesh
• Universidad Mayor de Sans Andre, Bolivia
• FIOCRUZ, Brazil
• Universidad de Chile, Chile
• East China Normal University, China
• Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
• Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
• Heinrich Pette Institute – Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Germany
• University of Frankfurt, Germany
• University of Heidelberg, Germany
• University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
• German Weather Agency, Germany
• University of Accra, Ghana
• University of Hiroshima, Japan
• National Research Council, Italy
• University of Bologna, Italy
• University of the South Pacific, Fiji
• Kenya Meteorological Department, Kenya
• Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya
• University of Nairobi, Kenya
• University of Mauritius, Mauritius
• University of Nairobi, Kenia
• Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique
• Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
• Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere Research, Portugal
• Universidad Politecnica De Madrid, Spain
• Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden
• Swiss Tropical Research Institute, Switzerland
• African Forum for International Relations in Research & Development (AFIRRD), Uganda
• London School of Tropical Medicine, UK
• Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
• West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH)
• University of Yale, USA
• Midlands State University (MSU), Zimbabwe
Governance
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The Centre´s team entails Professor Walter Leal, Senior Manager Franziska Wolf and Manager Derya Tasci. A wide range of experts on climate change and health issues offer support and advice to the work of the Centre. For the projects and other initiatives, project staff (including doctoral students) are regularly hired.
Political support
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The work of the centre is expected to politically support a wide range of organisations. These include:
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Pan American Health Organization
- The World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
- The United Nations Children's Fund, (UNICEF)
- The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
- The African Union
In particular, the Centre will strive to support developing countries in their efforts to implement concrete measures to handle the impacts of climate
change on human health.
Work plan 2022-2027
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Key Performance Indicators 2022-2027
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- Number of research projects: 5
- Number of research collaborations: 10
- Number of doctoral students trained: 5
- Revenue generated: 2 million euros
- Number of research events organized: 5
- Number of research papers published in journals: 10
Contact
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IECCCH welcomes the opportunity to cooperate with like-minded organisations working in the field of climate change and health. Please feel free to contact our project team, to explore the possibilities for cooperation.
Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change and Health
Professor Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DTech, DEd, DLitt)
Chair of Climate Change Management and Health
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Department of Health Sciences
Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg
Germany
info (at) iccip (dot) net
Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change and Health
Professor Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DTech, DEd, DLitt)
Chair of Climate Change Management and Health
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Department of Health Sciences
Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg
Germany
info (at) iccip (dot) net
