Better understanding of how climate change affects health
Transformative research in diverse communities informs effective, health-focussed climate action and solutions that are acceptable and affordable in the relevant locations.
Climate and Health
Our mission is to generate the health evidence for policy action that protects health from climate change.
By working with researchers and other organisations, we’re supporting the climate and health field to embed health research into climate policy.
The problem
Climate change is a health crisis, but it's not framed that way in the mainstream conversation. We still don't fully understand all the ways it impacts health, and the evidence we do have isn't translating into policy action. Health research can help us understand the full scale of the crisis. We need to urgently scale up evidence-based climate action to improve and protect our health.
Our goals
A thriving climate and health field
More collaborative networks, better research infrastructure and more funding for climate and health research.
Research evidence becomes policy solutions
Health is central to the mainstream discussion of climate change in all forums and evidence is translated into urgent climate mitigation and adaptation actions.
Generating evidence and solutions: our vision for Climate and Health
Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, shares our vision for a world where catastrophic climate breakdown is averted and human health can flourish.
How we’re doing this
Funding research
We fund research which fills gaps in our understanding of how climate change is affecting our health. We also fund studies on the health impacts of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions.
This research generates evidence we need to design climate and health policies which are effective, health-centred and locally relevant.
Supporting the climate and health field
We’re strengthening the climate and health field by supporting collaborative networks and funding transdisciplinary research projects.
This work builds the global community, infrastructure and funding opportunities needed for more climate and health research and to translate that research into action.
Advocating for health-centred climate action
We are championing evidence to inspire urgent, large-scale climate action that prioritises human health. We do this by working with international institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charities, governments and affected communities and by funding research projects with embedded policy expertise.
Through community engagement, campaigns and cultural partnerships, we’re working with communities and engaging the whole of society to ensure the cultural impact and relevance of our climate and health work.
Funding opportunities
Our Climate and Health programme is looking to fund research about the impact climate change has on human health and the health impacts of mitigation and adaptation actions. You may also be interested in our Discovery Research programme which funds fields and disciplines seeking new knowledge on life, health and wellbeing, including questions related to climate and health.
Our work in action
Our team
Rachel Huxley
Head of Mitigation
Wellcome
Latest report
The human cost of climate change; Health is needed for accelerated and equitable climate action
This report focuses on the intersection between climate change and health, outlines the evidence of the impacts of climate change on human health to inform policy and practice, and identifies opportunities to deliver health centred climate action.