Antonio Gasparrini is a Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology based at the Department of Department of Social & Environmental Health Research at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Key messages

Reducing open waste burning is essential for achieving clean air, clean energy access, climate change mitigation and health and well-being. Globally, over 2 billion tonnes of waste are produced annually. Household waste usually comprises a variety of materials including glass, plastics, metals, cardboard, paper, polystyrene, and organic matter such as food and garden waste. Infrequently, demolition waste, household chemicals or tyres may be included. Open waste burning may occur at major landfills, small or remote dumpsites, individual households or in streets.

Bio: Sari Kovats is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health, Environments and Society at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Sari has a PhD in environmental epidemiology and her research interests are primarily on methods to assess the health impacts of climate change and to generate evidence for adaptation planning in public health. She has worked on a range of (observational) studies on climate/weather to quantify their impacts on health and developed frameworks for the assessment of future climate change impacts on human health.

Noah Scovronick is a Rollins Distinguished Associate Professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, GA, USA. Dr. Scovronick directs Emory’s MPH Certificate in Climate and Health and is Deputy Director of Emory’s federally funded Climate and Health Actionable Research and Translation Center (CHART). He works on a range of topics related to climate change, including epidemiological studies of climate-sensitive health risks, the quantification of the health impacts of climate mitigation policies, and issues around exposure to hazardous substances.

For those who witness the effects of climate change every day, it can be frustrating to see how little others seem to care. The planet is in crisis, yet for many, it’s business as usual. If communicating about climate change feels daunting, you’re not alone.

Arnab K. Ghosh is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. His research program focuses on climate change and health, and development of interventions to protect vulnerable populations against climate-amplified threats. He received his undergraduate medical degree and graduate degree in development studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and graduate degrees in health policy, and clinical/translational sciences at Cornell University.

Air pollution is not only impacting the environment, but also the health of people. Recently, the South African Medical Research Council’s Climate Change and Health Research Programme conducted a first of its kind study assessing the health impacts faced by individuals living in district municipalities with coal-fired power stations.

A substantial body of scientific evidence supports the assertion that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of ongoing global climate change. This warming trend is associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, and storms. These events have been linked to a variety of adverse health outcomes. In this talk, Prof. Kan presents the scientific evidence supporting this link and discuss future research directions in this field.

How does extreme heat impact taxi drivers’ & passengers’ health?

Join us in exploring the results from two groundbreaking studies with the City of Tshwane and Durban’s Chesterville Taxi Association.