April 2025 climate and health round-up
Here’s what caught my eye this month.
Review: The impact of climate change on fungal infections
This interesting review article, published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, explores how climate change is impacting the epidemiology of fungal infections.
Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are changing fungal growth and geographic distribution. Extreme weather events, particularly flooding, also leave people more vulnerable to infection.
The authors conclude that, “The clinical implications are profound, with increased morbidity, mortality, and the spread of fungal infections into new regions.”
RFP: Investigating climate change and fungal pathogens
With the previous review article fresh in my mind, I noticed that Wellcome has put out a request for proposals (RFP) for a contract to work on ‘Investigating the impacts of climate variability and climate change on fungal pathogens of public health importance’. (That’s going to need an acronym.)
Wellcome is looking for a supplier that can identify gaps in research, data and knowledge in this area – e.g. through coordinating a scientific advisory committee, conducting a literature review, and mapping resources that support research on climate and fungal pathogens. Expressions of interest due by 28th April.
Wellcome has also published an explainer article about fungi, human health and climate change.
Research: Flooding and dementia risk
Climate change is contributing to an increase in flood events around the world. Floods can have a devastating effect on people’s mental and physical health.
A new study published in Nature’s Communications Medicine journal has used data from the UK Biobank to demonstrate that exposure to floods is a risk factor for incident dementia. This is an epidemiological study, so it doesn’t explore why this might be the case, but the findings are consistent with other research and some possible reasons have been put forward.
The stress, trauma and depression resulting from flooding may contribute to cognitive decline, as can the increased risk of social isolation due to having to evacuate to an unfamiliar area. There is also the possibility that exposure to pathogens or chemicals in flood water or after floods could contribute.
Article and toolkit: Emissions in the pharmaceutical supply chain
A team from the Netherlands has worked on an analysis of global pharmaceutical greenhouse gas emissions. Their research paper is published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
They found that the pharmaceutical emissions footprint grew by 77% overall from 1995 to 2019. They call for action to reduce waste, improve efficiency and support mitigation.
In the UK, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is supporting pharmacy staff with their Greener Pharmacy Guides and Toolkit. RPS is hosting a webinar about the toolkit on 29th May, 7pm (UK), to support ‘pharmacy champions’ in community and hospital pharmacy settings to work towards sustainable pharmacy.
Guidance: Adverse Weather and Health Plan
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the new edition of its Adverse Weather and Health Plan. It is a key document for public sector and other organisations planning for resilience during adverse weather events in England, such as heatwaves, droughts and floods.
Funding: Adapting health and social care systems
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched a programme to fund research that, “addresses the challenges of climate change by building resilience into the delivery of health and social care services during severe weather events.”
The funding window for development awards is open until June. Applications for funding for research collaboration awards will open in September. (Want me on your team? Get in touch!)
Report and event: Sustainable health supply chains
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Unitaid have published a position paper setting out key priorities for action on sustainable supply chains for healthcare. It was published alongside the report of an expert consultation meeting held in October.
Linked to this, WHO and Unitaid are hosting an online technical meeting on 6th May, to “explore strategies, share success stories, and align on next steps”.
Online training: Integrating health into NDCs
WHO is offering two free training sessions on integrating health into national climate plans (the ‘nationally determined contributions’, or NDCs).
The online events will feature expert presentations on the processes involved, sharing of country experiences and a Q&A session.
The training sessions are on 7th May, with one session starting at 9.30am (Switzerland, CEST) in English with French and Arabic interpreters. The session will be repeated in the afternoon from 3pm, in English with French and Spanish interpreters.
Online event: Sustainability in Quality Improvement
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is hosting its annual showcase of sustainability in quality improvement (SusQI).
There will be insights on integrating sustainability into QI education, inspiring projects from Canada, Wales and the European KitNewCare team and lots more.
The free online event is planned for Tuesday 13th May, 2-4.30pm (UK).
Opportunities: Climate and health roles
The Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health is recruiting an executive director for the institute and the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), based in Baltimore/Washington DC.
The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources at UCL is recruiting a research fellow in climate policy and health to work on a project with the Greater London Authority. Apply by 22nd April.
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Association of Anaesthetists and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare are jointly recruiting into a national fellowship in environmentally sustainable anaesthesia. Apply by 22nd April.
The University of Oxford is recruiting a researcher in climate change attribution to work on a Wellcome-funded climate and health project. Apply by 14th May.
The climate and health team at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is recruiting for multiple roles based in Geneva.
Last but not least, the lovely people at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) in the UK are also recruiting for multiple roles. Apply by 1st May.
What else is catching my eye?
Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m watching / and I enjoyed Jon’s thoughts on being a bluebell.