Climate Change

For more than ten years, our teams have been leading the way in interdisciplinary research to better understand and tackle environment and climate change. Alongside our colleagues across the University of Exeter, we are at the forefront of responding to these issues, working in partnership with governments, business, and communities.

We examine climate, oceans and human health globally as well as focusing on the special significance to the coastal communities of Cornwall. The benefits that can be gained to human health through the use of the environment is also examined through projects such as MEDMI, Blue Health and work with WHO and the UN.

The following represents just some of our research activity in this area.

News

Local Climate Adaptation Tool features as case study in World Meteorological Organisation State of Climate report

Climate change is bad for health but climate services save lives Climate change threatens to reverse health gains Extreme heat causes greatest mortality of all extreme weather events/ hazards Climate…

News

New £8.7 million project seeks to understand the health risks posed by coastal waters due to climate change

The impact of climate change on health risks due to pathogens in the environment, specifically in our coastal waters, will be investigated by a new €10 million Horizon Europe project…

News

Prestigious European research grant set to fund project on disability-inclusive climate adaptation

A new project focused on disability-inclusive climate adaptation is set to be launched following successful applications to a prestigious annual European funding programme. The University of Exeter will receive a…

Research project

Sensing Climate

A 5-year project placing the expertise of disabled people at the forefront of the climate crisis, creating new strategies to navigate a changing world.

Research project

BlueAdapt- a Horizon Europe project to study how Climate Change impacts on Coastal Pathogens to affect Human Health

OCTOBER 2022-2026 The impact of climate change on health risks due to pathogens in the environment, specifically in our coastal waters is being investigated by this £8.7 million Horizon Europe…

Research project

New Local Climate Adaptation Tool Supports Health and Wellbeing

A partnership between the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and Cornwall Council, supported by a wide range of local stakeholders is developing a tool to support local decision makers to plan and adapt to climate change.

Research project

MEDMI - Connecting health and environment data

The MEDMI project is aiming to connect diverse databases to improve our understanding of the links between climate, environment, and human health.

Research project

“Stark warning”: Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic

Eminent scientists warn that key ecosystems around Australia and Antarctica are collapsing, heralding a stark warning for ecosystem collapse worldwide, if action is not taken. The report proposes a three-step framework to combat irreversible global damage.

News

Report highlights opportunities to mitigate climate change to promote human health

A new report involving the European Centre for Environment and Human Health Director shows how action to mitigate climate change could promote human health.

News

Climate change policy decision-making tool “highly commended” in COP26 Climate Challenge Cup

A simple tool to help local authorities and other organisations use the latest evidence to adapt to climate change in ways that benefit human health has been highly commended in the international Climate Challenge Cup, announced last night as part of COP-26.

External

Climate expertise combines to create a 'powerful force' for change

Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter describes the vital work of the team from The European for Environment and Human Health, working alongside the world's top five influential climate scientists who are based at the University.

News

Climate change damaging health of millions 

Climate change is already a significant public health issue and a looming global health emergency, new research shows. . Leading doctors, academics and policy professionals from 24 organisations – including the University of Exeter – worked on the report.

External

ECEHH is part of Green Futures

At the University of Exeter, we stand together to create solutions to the environment and climate emergency and lead the way in interdisciplinary research to better understand and tackle environment and climate change.

News

Environmental Protection Scotland launches e-booklet for COP26 climate summit

An electronic pocket guide to the environment and sustainability sets out how Scotland can achieve a ‘Triple Win’ of improved health and wellbeing, equity and the environment with a greater focus on greenspace, energy efficient living, and changes to the way we consume food and travel.

News

Views of Cornish young people influence G7 leaders

Young people from Cornwall have formed part of an official youth engagement group for The G7 and Masters Graduate from the European Centre for Environment and Human, Emily Stevenson, was invited to support them in sharing their views with world leaders.

News

Peninsula Forum encourages lively debate around 'Balancing Nature & Health for the Future'

The third and final Peninsula Forum of 2021 rounded off our series of events by focusing on the risks and rewards that the environment can pose to human health and wellbeing and asking what more can be done to maximise the benefits.

Research project

Understanding the impacts of climate change on pharmaceutical usage

This study has found that climate-related environmental changes are linked to a rise in chronic diseases that are leading to greater use of medication.

News

Extreme heat damaging health and livelihoods

New research published in The Lancet medical journal shows that rising temperatures as a result of climate change are already exposing us to an unacceptably high health risk.

News

Health and environment data to be linked for the first time

A new £800,000 grant from the Medical Research Council will allow scientists to connect diverse databases and probe the links between climate, environment, and human health, for the first time.

Research project

Climate change adaptation

The Centre is considering the health impacts of climate change in BASE, a major European Commission FP7 funded project on climate change adaptation.