Background
Increasing average air temperatures and changes in the amount, intensity, and timing of precipitation are exacerbating other drivers of environmental degradation and reductions in biodiversity and increasing rates of morbidity and mortality directly and indirectly around the world. Indirectly, the consequences of climate change threaten food security, water security, health care systems, and other social and physical infrastructure, further threatening health and wellbeing and exacerbating inequities. As such, the climate crisis represents an immediate and urgent threat to global health that requires consideration in the design of all global health interventions in Canada and around the world.
Purpose
The CAGH Working Group on Climate Change and Health (WGCCH) is an emerging community of practice that provides opportunities for networking and collaborative engagement activities under the CAGH umbrella. The overarching goal of the working group is to bring together CAGH members with a strong interest and expertise in CCH and use the CAGH platform to enhance climate change-related knowledge and capacity among global health researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers.
For 2023, the core WGCCH activities will be to:
- Develop a thematic focus for the monthly webinar series on Climate Change and Health
- Design and host a minimum of six webinars for the series
- Provide timely, relevant content for the Climate Change Corner section of the Envision newsletter
- Update the Climate and Health section of the CAGH website
- Engage on climate/planetary health-related initiatives within the organization
Composition
The working group is composed of CAGH members with interest and/or expertise in climate change/planetary health/eco-health. It is led by two co-chairs who are elected by working group members on staggered and renewable two-year terms. Coordination support is provided by a CAGH staff member.
Membership Commitment
This is an active working group; there are minimum levels of commitment that are required to participate.
Key responsibilities include:
- Regular attendance and participation in online working group meetings. These are scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST.
- If there is a conflict and where possible, people may delegate someone to attend on their behalf (grad student, colleague, etc.)
- Sharing updates and relevant climate change and health information and collaboration opportunities with other WG members
- Supporting CAGH outreach and advocacy on Climate Change and Health
- Leading and/or supporting the implementation of the webinar series including organizing speakers, hosting webinars, and supporting production
- Each member is expected to lead the development of at least one webinar within an 18-month period and to provide back-end support to an additional webinar within the same period
- Actively promoting WG webinars, content and outputs through your professional networks
- Providing relevant content and links for the Climate Change Corner section of the Envision newsletter
- Contributing to the development of the Climate and Health web content
- Generating and supporting other collaborative activities, as necessary
Application Instructions
We welcome applications for working group members from individuals across a wide range of disciplines and sectors. The key application criteria are as follows:
- Expertise or strong interest in climate change and health
- A willingness to actively participate in the group’s activities
- Current member of CAGH
All applications will be reviewed and approved by the working group during our monthly meetings.
If you have any questions about the Working Group, please don’t hesitate to contact Corinne Schuster-Wallace (Co-Chair) or Lauren Chender (Membership and Operations Manager).