Yale Center on Climate Change and Health

YCCCH Affiliated Faculty members Dr. Annie Harper, a cultural anthropologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, and Dr. Caroline Dumont, a community psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, recently published a commentary in the Hartford Courant. The op-ed argues that despite the increasing awareness of extreme heat risks, there are not enough measures being taken to protect individuals with serious mental illness, who face significantly higher risk of illness and death in high temperatures. Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/geeySgmJ

In collaboration with the Connecticut Green Bank, the Clean Energy Group, and Operation Fuel, students from YCCCH’s Clinic on Climate Justice and Public Health have released a report emphasizing the urgent need for climate-smart technology in affordable housing. The report titled “Emerging Public Health Needs for Climate Smart Technology in Connecticut Affordable Housing,” highlights the critical importance of investing in backup power and stable indoor temperature solutions to protect residents who depend on Home Medical Devices, especially in communities most vulnerable to climate change. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gVvNx6i2 

Join YCCCH on Monday, September 9th at 12 PM ET for a conversation with Dr. Jonathan Buonocore, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Boston University School of Public Health, who will deliver the lecture "Health and the energy transition." All are invited to attend. Yale affiliates are welcome to join us in-person in LEPH 115, or you may stream the event online via Zoom. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ejHqdWqY

Karam Ahmad, MPH, a YCCCH Climate and Health Certificate graduate, and Maggie Hart, MPH, a recent graduate of the Climate Change and Health Concentration, met when Karam became Maggie's mentor as part of the YCCCH Mentorship Program. Karam and Maggie now work together at the Colorado Health Institute working on climate and health research. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/e-dXikpK

On September 27, 2024, the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health and The New York Academy of Medicine will host a first-of-its-kind, inaugural event on sustainable health systems during Climate Week NYC 2024. "Health Systems Implementing Climate Action" will be held in tandem with the United Nations General Assembly, bringing together leading examples of health system climate readiness innovation. This unique event will convene business and health sector leaders to present the latest research and practice findings around low carbon, resilient health care delivery, and explore building sustainable systems through actionable and scalable solutions. CME credits will be available.   Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation on sustainable health care. Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/eKrKA4pG.

Wildfire season is ablaze, but how exactly is it affecting our air and our health? There are many pollutants found in wildfire smoke that we may not be able to see, including lead, carbon monoxide, and PM 2.5. Exposure to this smoke can lead to many adverse health outcomes – including cognitive decline and kidney disease. Health safety tips when wildfire smoke is present in your area: ➡️ Stay indoors when possible with windows and doors closed. If you need to go outside, wear a NIOSH approved respirator. ➡️ Use a filtered HVAC system or portable air filter. Read on to see how you can create your own, low-cost air cleaner! ➡️ Check the air quality in your area. ➡️ Monitor your health symptoms. ➡️ Pay attention to alert systems and monitor fires on AirNow.gov’s Fire and Smoke Map. ➡️ Check on your friends and family! For more details, read the article by Gabriella Crivelli linked below. https://lnkd.in/eQBTuCuY Yale School of Public Health

The summer of 2024 is likely to be one of the hottest on record in the U.S., with July marking the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. Extreme heat does not only take a toll on physical health— it can also severely affect mental well-being. A study found that for every 1°C rise in temperature, there’s a 2.2% increase in mortality related to mental health. Read more to learn about the various ways heat impacts mental health and how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. For more details, check out the article by Gabriella Crivelli linked below. https://lnkd.in/e5w2hNge Yale School of Public Health

While evidence on the impacts of the climate crisis on children is growing, it often focuses on individual hazards, rather than on the unique vulnerabilities of children, and it frequently lacks strong and actionable policy recommendations. In July 2024, UNICEF and Karolinska Institutet published the report, "A threat to progress: Confronting the effects of climate change on child health and well-being," that addresses these challenges by compiling existing evidence in a comprehensive “stocktake” on the impacts of the climate crisis on children including droughts, floods and storms, and extreme heat. The report highlights factors that can exacerbate the impact of climate change on their health and well-being, and makes recommendations to address these challenges. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ejADziyZ

"One of my most impactful experiences outside of class was working with Krystal Godri Pollitt’s lab to calibrate ground-level air sensors at an EPA monitoring site. This project aims to collaborate with local communities, equipping them with these sensors to better understand their air quality. This experience was meaningful to me because it combined community engagement, environmental quality regulations, and scientific innovation, all of which are central to my values as an environmental public health researcher." - Aline Maybank, MPH ’25 (Environmental Health Sciences, Climate Change and Health)

“How do we reimagine cooling centers so that they are desirable to go to?” asked Elena Grossman, a lecturer on climate adaptation at the Yale School of Public Health. “There are places in communities that people just go to, and feel safe going to,” Grossman said. “They feel welcome there. And it’s not necessarily called a cooling center, but it serves as a cooling center.”